The Bears begin a seaso-long five game homestand on Wednesday when they host BYU.
BASE2/19/2024 3:44 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Bears Begin Five-Game Homestand Wednesday
Cal Makes 2024 Home Debut Against BYU
BERKELEY – The California baseball begins a season-long five-game homestand on Wednesday when BYU comes to Stu Gordon Stadium. The homestand will continue through the weekend when UCONN comes to Berkeley for a three-game series beginning Friday. All four games will be streamed on the Cal Live Stream with Jim Darby calling the action live from the stadium.
The Golden Bears are coming off a terrific weekend after going 2-1 in the 2024 MLB Desert Invitational. Cal opened the weekend defeating No. 24 Kansas State 6-3 in the opener. Wednesday's game against BYU is scheduled to begin at 5:05 p.m. UCONN's series will start at 6:05 p.m. on Friday, 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. Fans can follow the action via live stats for all four contests at Statbroadcast.com.
HOW TO FOLLOW
QUICK HITS
- After three games, the Bears are hitting .358 as a team which ranks 26th in the nation. Cal is averaging 9.3 runs per game.
- The Bears pitching staff struck out 16 in the win over Georgetown on Saturday. The most since Cal struck out 16 at San Jose State on Mar. 15, 2022. As a team, Cal averages 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings which is 32nd in the nation.
- Strong Debuts: The Bears had 11 players debut for Cal over the weekend. Up the middle, freshmen shortstop PJ Moutzouridis and second baseman Jarren Advincula were terrific. Moutzouridis hit .667 with seven RBI, while Advincula hit .400 with six runs scored. On the bump, starter Trey Newmann struck out six and scattered a hit and a walk over four innings of work against No. 24 Kansas State.
- At the Desert Invitational a large part of Cal's offensive success was due to production from the bottom of the order. Cal's 7-8-9 hitters combined to hit .517 (15-for-29) with 15 runs scored and 10 RBI.
- On Monday, Rodney Green Jr. was named to the inaugural Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team which will be awarded annually to a collegiate baseball player who excels in three key areas: demonstrating a substantial commitment to their community through service and philanthropy, embodying the spirit of Lou Gehrig, and making a remarkable contribution to the success of their respective teams.
- Freshman designated hitter Ryan Tayman hit his first career home run against Georgetown on Saturday. The home run was also Tayman's first collegiate hit. He becomes the first Bear since Sean Sullivan (2019-21) to hit a home run for his first collegiate hit. Sullivan, a pitcher, hit a home run for his only career hit against USC on Mar. 17, 2019.
- Also hitting home runs over the weekend were juniors Carson Crawford (16th career home run), Rodney Green Jr. (21st) and Caleb Lomavita (24th). Lomavita needs just five home runs to tie Jerry Goff (1984-86) and Josh Satin (2004-08) for 10th all-time in program history.
SERIES HISTORY
- Wednesday will be the 23rd meeting between the Bears and Cougars. All-time Cal owns a 14-8 advantage in the series and has won six straight over BYU. The last time these two teams faced each other was on Feb. 18, 2019, at the Angels College Classic in Tempe, Ariz., with the Bears defeating BYU 10-6.
- Friday will be the fourth meeting between Cal and Connecticut. The two teams have played each other three times since 1998 with Cal holding a 2-1 advantage in the series. Last season, the Huskies game to Stu Gordon Stadium for a two-game series as part of the California Baseball Classic. The Bears took game one, 4-2 on Feb. 25. The second game that was scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 26 was postponed due to rain.
UP NEXT
Cal wraps up the homestand with a non-conference clash against visiting Sacramento State. The Bears and Hornets are scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
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