Pitching Leads Bears Past No. 23 Sacramento State

BERKELEY – Five California pitchers struck out a combined 13 batters, including eight of the final nine faced as the Golden Bears defeated No. 23 Sacramento State, 6-2, Tuesday night at Evans Diamond.

Cal (5-3) broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the sixth inning before Aaron Roberts and Christian Becerra staved off the Hornets late with eight combined strikeouts in three innings of work. It was the Bears’ second victory over a nationally-ranked opponent through eight games played this season. The Hornets dropped to 7-1 with their first loss.

In the pivotal four-run sixth, the Bears’ first three batters reached base as Rodney Green Jr. doubled, Keshawn Ogans singled on a bunt and Trevor Tishenkel walked. Cal took the lead on Dylan Beavers’ bases-loaded walk and made it 4-2 when Ogans scored on fielder’s choice the following at bat. Cole Elvis added the exclamation mark with a two-run single up the middle.

The Hornets appeared poised to strike back in the seventh when they loaded the bases with no outs against Vaughn Mauterer, but Roberts came on in relief and ended the threat by striking out the side. Becerra took it from there, striking out the side in the eighth before adding another two in the ninth. Roberts and Becerra struck out seven Hornets in a row at one point.

Sam Stoutenborough got Cal off to a strong start, allowing just two hits and one walk in five scoreless innings and left the contest with a two-run lead. Ogans’ first of two doubles down the left-field line scored a pair in the bottom of the fourth and pushed Cal in front.

Sacramento State tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run by Jorge Bojorquez in the sixth after Stoutenborough left the game.

Cal drew a season-high eight walks and tallied 11 hits, including three by Ogans and two apiece by Hance Smith and Elvis.

UP NEXT

The Bears travel to Tallahassee, Florida to face No. 10 Florida State in a three-game series at Dick Howser Stadium. The action gets underway Friday at 3 p.m. PT on the ACC Network.