CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The California baseball team was unable to make a quality start by pitcher
Gavin Eddy count on Saturday as Miami earned a 4-3 walk-off win to even the series at Mark Light Field.
Just as they did yesterday, the Golden Bears (22-19, 7-13 ACC) got out to a first-inning lead with catcher
Hideki Prather hitting a lead-off double on the second pitch of the game and scoring on a double by shortstop
Jett Kenady who collected his third extra-base hit and fourth RBI of the series. That lead was short lived though as the Hurricanes (31-12, 11-9) answered with a three-run home run in the bottom half to take their first lead of the series.
After that one mistake pitch, Eddy was nails putting up six straight scoreless innings to earn his sixth quality start of the year. He tallied 8.0 innings of work and scattered six hits and a pair of walks while striking out seven to give his team a chance to catch up, and catch up the Bears did.
The Cal offense paid Eddy back in the top of the fifth inning, as eight and nine hitters
Ethan Kodama both walked to set the table for Prather. The junior came through with his second double to drive in both runs and tie the game at 3-3.
Cal got the go-ahead run into scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings but could not bring them home as Miami center fielder Michael Torres robbed a home run and made a diving catch in successive innings to keep the Bears at bay. Cal went on to load the bases with two outs in the eighth but once again the 'Canes escaped unscathed.
After it appeared that Eddy would be done after the sixth, he came out and struck out the side in the seventh and hung his seventh straight zero in eighth. The sophomore allowed just one Hurricane to reach base from the fourth inning on and retired 11 in a row. Eddy became the second starter to go eight full this weekend joining
Oliver de la Torre who tossed a gem in yesterday's win.
Miami walked it off on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to tie the series. It was the same play and final score that the Bears found themselves on the positive side of in Wednesday's win over San Francisco.
The Bears are back at The Light tomorrow morning for the rubber match which begins at 10 a.m. PT on ACCNX.
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