Cal Outlasts Saint Mary’s 6-5

MORAGA, Calif.. — Thanks to early runs and a strong performance by its bullpen the California baseball team began its five-game week with a win Tuesday night defeating Saint Mary’s on the road 6-5 at Louis Guisto Field.

For the third time in the last four games, the Golden Bears (23-20) struck in the top of the first as shortstop Jett Kenady doubled on the fourth pitch of the ballgame and second baseman Daniel Murillo singled through the infield to put runners on the corners. Designated hitter Lawson Olmstead did his job taking the first pitch he saw to deep right field for a sac-fly that got Cal on the board. Just two pitches later, left fielder Carl Schmidt sent his eighth home run of the season over the left field wall, a two-out, two-run blast that gave the Bears a 3-0 lead before the Gaels (25-19) even picked up a bat.

Schmidt, who went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBI at this field in last season’s win over SMC, continued his Moraga madness today going 3-for-4.

Jordy Lopez took the bump for Cal earning his second straight midweek start and was solid out of the gate. A Saint Mary’s run scored in the bottom of the first due to defensive miscues, but the Gaels were only able to get weak contact on Lopez through the first three innings. The sophomore went three-up, three-down in the second and third.

The Bears took a 5-1 lead in the top fourth thanks to an RBI single by Hideki Prather, who made his first collegiate start at first base, and a sac-fly by Kenady. Prather finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a run and a stolen base as he extended his reached-base-safely streak to 22 games. Kenady ended 1-for-3 with a walk and has now collected a hit in seven straight games.

The Gaels answered quickly and effectively in the bottom half of the inning, getting to Lopez with three solo home runs to cut the lead to 5-4 and end the sophomore’s night. Lopez finished with 4.0 innings, three earned runs, four hits, and a pair of walks and strikeouts.

The first arm out of the Bears’ bullpen was Jett Wright (2-1) who dazzled with two scoreless, hitless innings of work. The freshman allowed just one batter to reach via a walk and made quick work of the SMC lineup getting six outs on 17 pitches to earn the second win of his career.

An RBI bloop single by the always timely Murillo platedd what would be the game-winning run in the sixth inning as he drove in Prather to put the Bears up 6-4.

After senior Ryan Spalliero hung a zero against his former team in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman Take Kreis entered for the eighth. Saint Mary’s refused to quit, using a two-out rally to load the bases and chase Kreis. It was all up to fellow rookie Cade Colombara, who after walking in a run that cut the lead to 6-5 got the biggest strikeout of the night to end the inning. Colombara came back out for the ninth and ended the night with a four-out save, the second of his career.

Cal’s five-game week continues tomorrow at Stu Gordon Stadium when the Bears host UC Davis at 6:05 p.m. on ACCNX.