HOUSTON – Late rallies by Houston in the seventh and eighth innings were the difference as the host Cougars avoided the sweep and defeated California 8-6 on Sunday afternoon at Schroeder Park.
 
The Golden Bears (2-1) scored six runs on a season-high 13 hits, but could not get the hit to blow the game open. Cal's offense managed to get 19 runners in scoring position but left 13 on the bases. In the eighth inning alone, after scoring the go-ahead run, Cal had a chance to put the game away but hit into an inning-ending double-play and left the door open for Houston (1-2), which battled back all afternoon before coming away with the win.
 
The Bears struck first in their first at-bat. Caleb Lomavita and Rodney Green Jr. led off the frame with a single and a double to put runners at second and third. Starting pitcher Tucker Bougie, who was also slotted in the lineup as the designated hitter, helped his own cause by knocking in Lomavita from third on a ground ball to second. Carson Crawford had another clutch two-out RBI double down the left field line that allowed Green Jr. to score easily.  
 
Lomavita finished the afternoon 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Green was 3-for-5 and also scored a pair of runs. Bougie knocked in three in a 1-for-4 effort.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars captured their first lead of the series. Brandon Burckel's second double of the afternoon scored the tying run when he sent a shot past a diving Dom Souto down the left field line to score the tying run from first. That ended Bougie's day on the mound, giving way to a relief appearance by Tyler Stasiowski, who gave up a single to Cameron Nickens that scored Burckel for a 4-3 Houston advantage.

Bougie allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits with a walk and a strikeout in 3.2 innings pitched.
 
The Bears regained momentum starting in the bottom of the fifth. Chris Stamos had a dominant inning of work, striking out the side after a walk to open the inning. In the top of the sixth Jack Johnston led off the inning with an infield single to third. Souto tied the game up with his first hit of the season, a triple to left center past the diving outfielder. Lomavita knocked in Souto on a single up the middle to give the Bears a 5-4 lead.
 
In the seventh with the Bears leading 5-4, Houston scored twice to regain the lead. Brandon Uhse doubled down the left field line, scoring Alex Lopez, who led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Uhse scored on a sacrifice fly.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bears turned the ball over to Andres Galan (0-1) who surrendered a pair of runs, including the game-winner on a single by Zach Arnold to right field that scored Burckel.
 
Jose Torrealba (1-1) earned the win. He shut the door on the Bears late in the game going 1.1 innings without surrendering a hit or a run.
 
UP NEXT
Cal will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Stanford, Calif. to take on the Cardinal at Sunken Diamond for a nonconference contest. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on Pac-12 Bay Area.
 
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