Cal Wins At Duke In First-Ever ACC Game

Cal Wins At Duke In First-Ever ACC Game

DURHAM, N.C. – Jarren Advincula (3-5, 2B) singled on the first pitch ever thrown to the California baseball team (7-6, 1-0 ACC) in an ACC game and the day only got better from there as the Golden Bears knocked off defending ACC champion Duke (8-6, 0-1 ACC) on Friday at Jack Coombs Field. Cade Campbell (3-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) gave Cal a 3-0 lead just four pitches into the contest when he blasted a three-run homer over the left field and Dominic Smaldino (2-4, HR, 3 RBI) made it a 5-0 advantage three batters later with a two-run shot.

Cal finished with five home runs as Alex Birge (3-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI) hit solo bombs in both the second and fifth innings for his second two-homer game in the last three contests before Ryan Tayman (3-4, HR, RBI) capped the power outburst with a solo homer of his own in the sixth.

PJ Moutzouridis (2-4, 2B, RBI) also had a multiple-hit game for the Bears.

"We stuck to the game plan," Birge said. "We strung some at bats together and when we do that good things happen. We want to continue to build on that."

Cal starter Austin Turkington (2-2) threw the first complete game of his career and struck out a career-high 10. Turkington allowed just a single run on the first batter he faced when he gave up a solo homer in bottom of the first by Duke leadoff hitter Wallace Clark. Turkington allowed a total of just three hits and two walks over 97 pitches and did not allow a hit after Andrew Yu's two-out single in the bottom of the fourth.

"It's an exciting time," Turkington said. "I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to get the ball on Friday night. It's a new opportunity for us, a new opportunity as a team to win some chunks and I think we won a lot of chunks today."

Duke starter Kyle Johnson (1-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs (all earned) on five hits and two hit batsmen. Johnson threw 1.1 innings and retired only four of the 11 batters he faced before being removed after hitting Seth Gwynn with one out in the second.

Cal and Duke continue their three-game series Saturday (12 p.m. PT) before playing the series final Sunday (9 a.m. PT). RHP Gavin Eddy (1-1, 0.63 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound in Saturday's contest for Cal, while Duke is slated to counter with RHP Ryan Higgins (1-0, 6.52 ERA). Cal is slated to start Ethan Foley (2-0, 3.09 ERA) on the hill Sunday and Duke has yet to announced a starter.

"It's pretty special," Neu said after the victory. "This conference is A-plus. There are so many good teams and coaches, four teams in Omaha last year. I'm excited to play this level of competition and learn every time we come out here what these guys are doing and how they are being successful. For a lot of reasons, it's exciting for us and obviously to get the first win on the first day is big."

"We're going to enjoy it for a little bit," Neu added. "There's definitely something special to getting your first win in the first ACC game. It's such a great league, and they're a really good team. Any time you can get a win against a good team on a Friday that's big, but we've got to come back tomorrow, turn the page and be ready to play another tough opponent."