BERKELEY – Free passes proved costly, as Utah took the rubber match 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Stu Gordon Stadium. The California baseball team allowed eight batters to reach via a walk or being hit by a pitch, three of those came around to score.
Cal (14-7, 5-4 Pac-12) outhit Utah (16-7, 5-4) 15-8 but could not get the two-out hit it desperately needed. The Bears left 10 runners on base and were just 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The Utes scored the game's opening run in the top of the first. A walk and a base hit with a throwing error allowed Drake Digiorno to score. Digiorno and Kai provided most of the offense for the Utes on Sunday. Digiorno went 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored. Roberts was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
The Bears evened up the contest in the bottom of the first when
Rodney Green Jr. blasted a solo shot over the right center field fence. It was his fifth of the year. Green finished the afternoon going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Utah took the lead for good in the top of the fourth. With the score tied 2-2, Kaden Carpenter led off the fourth with a walk and scored on a single from Michael Davinni. In the fifth, Roberts added to the Utah lead with a 2-out home run, his fifth of the year. A hit batter and an error allowed Utah to score a second run in the inning.
In the eighth inning, Utah scored what proved to be the game-winning run.
Oliver Boone recorded two quick outs before hitting three consecutive batters to load the bases. He then walked in the sixth run of the contest.
Cal's offense came to life in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Max Handron poked a single the other way to shallow left field to get aboard. Pinch hitter
Matthew Thomas was just able to keep a ball down the left field line fair for a two-run home run, his third of the year. The rally continued when three straight singles by
Jarren Advincula,
Seth Gwynn, and
Alec Ritch loaded the bases with no outs.
PJ Moutzouridis cut the deficit in half, hitting a deep fly ball to center that scored Advincula from third. Cal had two more chances to get the speedy Gwynn home from third, but Utah closer Michah Ashman recorded back-to-back strikeouts to preserve the lead. Ashman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game for his sixth save of the season.
Earning the win was reliever Bransen Kuehl (2-0). Kuehl went 2.1 innings, scattering two hits, he did not allow a run to score and struck out two.
The loss went to
Jake Guardiancic (1-1) who pitched 2.0 innings in relief, allowing a hit and two earned runs with a walk and a strikeout.
Ritch went 4-for-4 on the day, he was one of three Bears with multiple hits. Advincula went 3-for-4. Moutzouridis, Green Jr.,
Peyton Schulze, and Thomas all collected RBIs.
Cal will return to action tomorrow night when they host Sant Clara in a midweek nonconference contest. Monday's pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
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