SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Cal baseball team went into the eighth holding a 2-1 lead thanks to solid defense and terrific pitching. Unfortunately, in the bottom of the eighth No. 6-seed Oregon scored two runs on defensive miscues, winning 3-2 in the opening round of pool play at the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament.
 
Cal (24-27) scored the first two runs of the game thanks to extra-base hits to start the first and second innings. The Golden Bears were 5-for-9 getting the leadoff hitter aboard on Tuesday evening. However, getting runners in was the issue. Cal was just 2-for-17 with runners on base and 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
 
Carson Crawford led the Bears going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Dom Souto was 1-for-4 with an RBI single, and Max Handron went 1-for-2 with a triple and a run scored. Caleb Lomavita went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Oregon (34-20) also struggled with runners on, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and hit into a pair of inning-ending double plays that prevented the Ducks from taking the lead earlier in the contest. Tanner Smith led the Ducks with three hits, he also scored two runs. Drew Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jacob Walsh and Bennett Thompson had the other RBIs for Oregon.
 
The fireworks started early for the Bears. On the game's first pitch, Handron sent one off the wall in deep center field for a standup triple. A tremendous defensive play by Oregon robbed Lomavita of extra bases but did allow Handron to score the Bear's first run. Cal added a run in the second when Crawford led off with a double down the left field line, he scored on the base hit through the left side from Souto.  
 
Christian Becerra got the start for Cal, he tossed a scoreless first inning before turning the ball over to Andres Galan in the second. Galan was excellent, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out five. Twice the Bears' defense helped out their pitcher by turning inning-ending double players in the third and fourth inning. Tyler Stasiowski (0-2) took the loss, he pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two hits, and two runs, while striking out two.
 
Oregon's two-run eighth inning started with a single through the left side by Sabin Ceballos. Tanner Smith smashed a double to right field that was nearly caught by Kade Kretzschmar. Drew Smith hit a ground ball to short that was misplayed but Crawford allowing a run to score. The Ducks took the lead one batter later when Walsh flew out to center allowing Tanner Smith to score the go-ahead run.  
 
In the top of the ninth inning, Crawford led off with a single through the left side. Oregon closer Josh Mollerus closed the door on the Bears' comeback attempt, getting a flyout and a game-ending double play. The save was Mollerus' ninth of the year.
 
Earning the win was Logan Mercado (5-1) who tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. He was one of five Oregon relief pitchers who kept the Bears off the board. Grayson Grinsell got the start for Oregon, he went 3.0 complete allowing four hits, and two runs.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears wrap up the 2023 season tomorrow when they take on top-seed Stanford. Wednesday's game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. PT and will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
 
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