Bears Bash Georgetown, 12-3

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. – After falling behind early the offense roared to life in the top of the fourth when freshman Ryan Tayman smashed a solo home run for his first collegiate hit. The California baseball team erupted to score 12 runs on 15 hits, while the pitching staff combined to strike out 14 en route to a 12-3 win over Georgetown Saturday afternoon at Salt River Field.

Cal (2-0) got a shaky start from starter Luke Short. Short displayed impressive stuff, striking out four in 2.2 innings, however Georgetown (0-2) managed to score a run on him in the bottom of the first when Joe Hollerbach singled to left field. Short ended the threat getting the final out on a fly ball to left.

The Hoyas offense went cold after that, being held to just three hits through the first four innings. Jake Guardiancic (1-0) earned the win, facing just one batter in the top of the third – but it was a big out. He entered the game with runners at second and third and two outs but ended the threat with a strikeout.

Oliver de la Torre, Robert Aivazian, and Quin Larson combined to go the rest of the way for the Golden Bears. The trio combined to pitch six innings, allowing six hits, two runs – both charged to de la Torre – and 11 strikeouts. de la Torre went four complete and struck out six in his collegiate debut. The 14 strikeouts by the pitching staff are the most since Cal struck out 15 against Utah on May 20, 2022.

The home run by Tayman eroded the confidence of GU starter Cody Bowker (0-1) who was overpowering through the first three innings. After the blast to Tayman, Bowker allowed a single to Carson Crawford, issued a walk to Jarren Advincula, and hit Alec Ritch to load the bases with one out. PJ Moutzouridis once again provided the big hit, a two-run single that gave the Bears the lead for good, part of a four-run rally. Moutzouridis finished the day going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

In the top of the fifth Cal scored five more runs. The rally started with a titanic blast over the right field wall by Rodney Green Jr. His first of the year and the 21st of his career. Crawford also had a solo home run in the frame, part of his two-hit performance. Back-to-back doubles by  Advincula and Ritch scored two more.

Cal added three more runs in the ninth to cap off its scoring for the afternoon. Five Bears collected multiple hits on the day, Max Handron went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Caleb Lomavita and Green also collected a pair of hits.

UP NEXT

Cal wraps up the Desert Invitational tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT when they take on Boston College. The game will be streamed live on MLB.com.