STANFORD – The California baseball team scored the game's opening run for the second-straight game, but for the second-consecutive day, a big fifth inning was the difference as Stanford took game two by a final score of 15-6 on Saturday afternoon at the Sunken Diamond.
 
Stanford (19-21, 11-9) brought the lumber, hitting four home runs – two from Jimmy Nati in the fifth inning and two more from Trevor Haskins. Stanford took the lead for good in the bottom of the third but a nine-run fifth inning provided the Cardinal with all the run support they would need. Nati finished the day 5-for-6 with six RBI. Trevor Haskins was 2-for-5 with five runs batted in.
 
Cal (25-16, 11-12) provided a little thunder as well, six of the Bears' 10 hits went for extra bases. Caleb Lomavita smashed his 13th home run of the season and 36th of his career in the sixth inning. He is now tied with former Golden Bear Dylan Beavers for seventh all-time. Next up on the list is Clint Hoover (1998-01) who is sixth all-time with 39 home runs. Not to be outdone, Rodney Green Jr. blasted his 12th home run of the year and 32nd of his career. He moves into a tie for ninth all-time with Lance Blakenship (1983-86). Matthew Thomas also had a home run, his fourth of the year.
 
The win went to Cardinal starter Christian Lim (4-4). Lim allowed loud contact, as four of the seven hits he allowed were extra-base hits, but he did enough to keep the Bears off the board, going 7.0 complete, allowing three runs – all earned, with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
The loss went to Ian May (0-1) who could not get out of the third inning due to his pitch count. He left with a run in and two runners on. Relief pitcher Tom Mayer could not prevent either from scoring. May's final line: 2.2 innings pitched, three hits allowed, three runs – all earned, with a walk and two strikeouts.
 
In the top of the second Cal got the scoring started when Green Jr. led off the inning with a single to left center. Two batters later Max Handron smoked a ball the other way to left center for a stand-up double. Green Jr. who was running on the play scored easily from first. Handron finished the day going 1-for-4 to extend his reached base safely streak to 21 games.
 
The lead did not last long, the Cardinal rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third and blew it open with the nine-run. The Cardinal hit three home runs in the frame – two from Nati. The second, a 3-run home run made it 12-1 in favor of the Cardinal.
 
Cal scored four runs late, two from the home run from Green Jr. in the eighth. Nico Button had an RBI double in the seventh and Matthew Thomas led off the ninth with a solo home run. Seth Gwynn went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games.
 
Cal looks to avoid the sweep when they take on the Cardinal tomorrow at 4 p.m. The Sunday finale will be televised on the Pac-12 Bay Area.
 
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