Bears Complete Comeback To Take Game 1 vs UCLA

BERKELEY – Entering the bottom of the fifth inning the California baseball team trailed 7-1 when Jarren Advincula woke the offense up with a solo home run, sparking a six-run rally that saw the Golden Bears take game one of this three-game Pac-12 series 11-7 on Friday evening at Stu Gordon Stadium. The win gives seventh-year head coach Mike Neu 200 career victories in his nine years as a head coach.

Cal (9-3, 1-0 Pac-12) continues to get it done offensively late in the game. After allowing seven runs through the first five innings, the Bears scored 10 runs from the fifth inning on. Four in the seventh and eighth to put the game away. Cal got home runs from Advicula, Max Handron, and Peyton Schulze, giving Cal 23 on the year. The win extends the Bears' home winning streak to seven games to start the season. It is the longest winning streak to begin a year since Cal won nine straight at home to begin 2018.

UCLA (5-7, 0-1) finished the night with seven runs on nine hits. Second baseman Duce Gourson proved to be difficult to get out, he was a triple shy of the cycle. He finished the night 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. His two-run home run in the top of the third inning gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead.  

Cal starter Trey Newmann pitched better than his numbers indicated. The freshman went 5.0 complete, allowing seven hits, and seven runs, with a walk and seven strikeouts. The five innings pitched and seven strikeouts are both career-bests. After giving up home runs to Malakhi Knight and Gourson he limited the damage in the third. He struck out the side in the fourth before running into trouble again in the fifth.

The Bruins appeared to blow the game open thanks in part to a four-run rally. Back-to-back singles from Roch Cholowsky and AJ Salgado put two aboard for Gourson who doubled to center scoring both runners. Mulivai Levu smashed a home run to left-center to make it a 7-1 ball game. Newmann responded by striking out Roman Martin to end the inning.

The Bruin lead did not last for long. Advincula led off the fifth with his home run, launching a ball down the right field line for his first career home run. PT Moutzouridis singled to short, part of his three-hit night. With two outs, Handron made it a 7-4 game crushing a ball over the right field fence to make it 7-4. It was the second of the year and 11th of Handron’s career.

The rally continued with a single to left field by Schulze. Carson Crawford singled through the left side and Alec Ritch walked to load the bases for Seth Gwynn who walked on four pitches to make it 7-5. That ended the day for starter Luke Jewett. Reliever Nate Leibold came in to face Advincula, who got his second hit of the inning on a single to first base through the right side that scored a pair to make it a 7-7 ballgame.

Christian Becerra (3-0) entered the game in the top of the sixth and pitched three strong innings. He held UCLA to two hits and more importantly, did now allow a run.

In the bottom of the seventh, UCLA turned to its bullpen for the second time. On to pitch was Luke Rodgriguez (0-2). He began his rough outing by hitting Crawford on the first pitch. Ritch reached on a throwing error by the third baseman on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

With two aboard, Moutzouridis singled up the middle scoring Crawford from second, giving the Bears the lead for good. The rally ended with an RBI double down the right field line from Rodney Green Jr.

Neu is now 200-202 in nine years as a Division I head coach. In two years at Pacific, he went 40-65. In seven seasons at Cal, he is 160-137.

Cal looks to take the series tomorrow afternoon. Game two is scheduled for a 2:05 p.m. first pitch.