BERKELEY— The short-handed California baseball team dropped its series opener to Virginia Tech 9-1 Friday night at Stu Gordon Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Junior
Oliver de la Torre picked up his third quality start in his last four games tossing 6.0 innings and allowing just two earned runs, both of which came on one swing. The right-hander gave up nine hits and a walk while striking out three and was charged with loss, breaking his three-game win streak.
The Golden Bears (23-22, 7-15 ACC) were without three of their starting field players, including two of their best bats and middle infielders
Jacob French and
Jett Kenady, and struggled all night with the bats getting just five hits.
It was French and Kenady's replacements that helped Cal avoid its first shutout of the year from the bottom of the lineup. Shortstop
Brady Errecart collected his collegiate hit and stole his first base to get into scoring position for second baseman
Taichi Nakao who drove him in on a nice piece of two-strike hitting. The New Zealand native slapped an outside pitch through the opening in the right side of the infield to give the freshman enough time to score from second
Errecart collected a single in the ninth to end the night to 2-for-4 and join centerfielder
Ethan Kodama, who drew three walks, as the only other Bear to reach base multiple times.
The Hokies (24-20, 12-13 ACC) opened up their lead at the end of the game tagging the Cal bullpen with six runs in the final three innings to go up 9-1. Seven of Virginia Tech's 16 hits came in those three frames.
The Bears will try to even the series tomorrow in Game 2 which begins at 2:05 p.m. PT on ACCNX.
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