@ Cal 5 – Washington 4
@ UCLA 8 – Stanford 2
@ ASU 15 – OSU 12
@ Arizona 4 – WSU 2
@ UCSB 6 – USC 0
Media Releases
(Berkeley, CA) – Junior first baseman David Cooper hit single to center field with two outs and full count in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the No. 8-ranked California baseball team to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Washington Sunday afternoon in a Pac-10 contest at Evans Diamond. The Golden Bears had battled back from a 4-0 deficit by scoring four runs in the seventh inning and received outstanding relief pitching from sophomore right fielder/right hander Blake Smith. Cal improved to 26-10-2 overall and 7-5 in league play, and captured the series two games to one. The Bears had won, 10-5, Friday and lost, 7-4, on Saturday. The Huskies dropped to 24-14 and 4-5 in the conference.
Washington had taken a 4-0 lead after scoring three times in the top of the seventh on RBI singles from pinch hitter Brett Wilcox and second baseman Bradley Boyer, and an RBI double by Brian Pearl off of Cal reliever Matt Gorgen. But, the Bears mounted an impressive comeback in the bottom of the seventh off of Husky starter Nick Haughian (8.0 innings, eight hits, four runs, three walks, seven strikeouts). With one out, sophomore catcher Dylan Tonneson gave Cal its first run of the game with a solo home run to right center field. Smith followed with an infield single to third base before junior centerfielder Michael Capbarat got the Bears within 4-3 with a two-run home to left center field. Finally, sophomore designated hitter Brett Jackson tied the game, 4-4, with an infield hit to second, scoring junior right fielder Charlie Cutler.
In the bottom of the ninth, freshman left fielder Mark Canha forced a walk from UW reliever Paul Dickey (0-1, 0.2 inning, one hit, one run, one walk, one strikeout) with two outs. Sophomore third baseman Jeff Kobernus advanced Canha to second with a single to right, setting up Cooper’s heroics. Husky left-handed reliever Geoff Brown came in to face Cooper, and had a full count on the Bears’ hitting star, before Cooper hit his game-winner to center field.
Smith picked up the win for Cal by throwing the final 2.0 innings with one hit, no runs, one walk and three strikeouts to improve his record to 2-0. Kobernus and Capbarat finished the game with two hits apiece for the Bears, who only had one hit off of Haughian heading into Cal’s six-hit, four run seventh inning. UW had scored its first run of the game in the fourth inning on Ty Rasmussen’s RBI single off of Cal senior right-hander Alex Rollin (4.0 innings, five hits, one run, one walk, two strikeouts).
The Bears will next host Cal Poly in a non-conference game on Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at Evans Diamond. Cal will then continue Pac-10 play when it travels to Arizona State for a three-game series, beginning Friday, Apr. 25 at 7 p.m. at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Home Runs:
Washington: None.
Cal: Tonneson, solo home run in the seventh inning. Capbarat, two-run homer in the seventh inning.
(Los Angeles, CA) – The UCLA baseball team overcame an early 2-0 deficit by scoring six runs in the first three innings to defeat No. 10 Stanford, 8-2, Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. First baseman Casey Haerther went 2-for-4, belting his sixth home run of the season, and totaled two runs and one RBI to help the Bruins (19-16, 4-5 Pac-10) snap a three-game losing streak.
Left-hander Gavin Brooks (4-2) recorded his third consecutive victory, limiting Stanford (21-12-2, 8-4 Pac-10) to two runs and four hits in six innings while recording six strikeouts. Left-hander Matt Drummond recorded his first collegiate save, hurling three shutout innings in relief. Drummond scattered four hits and totaled four strikeouts.
Stanford right-hander Jeffrey Inman (5-1) absorbed his first loss of the season, allowing six runs and four hits in 2.1 innings. Inman issued two walks, hit two batters and recorded one strikeout.
Second baseman Alden Carrithers and third baseman Jermaine Curtis each went 2-for-4. Right fielder Brady Dolan went 1-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Stanford raced to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as left fielder Toby Gerhart reached on a one-out ground-rule double to center. A single into center field by catcher Jason Castro sent home Gerhart. First baseman Brent Milleville’s double down the left-field line moved Castro to third. Center fielder Sean Ratliff lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, deep enough to score Castro.
UCLA answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Carrithers led off the frame with a single through the right side and moved to third base on an errant pickoff attempt by Inman. With two outs, Haerther belted his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot over the right-field fence, tying the score at 2-2.
The Bruins captured a 3-2 lead with one run in the bottom of the second. Right fielder Brady Dolan led off the innings getting hit by a pitch and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Mickey Weisser. Carrithers followed with a base-hit to left field, sending home Dolan from second base.
UCLA took advantage of two walks in the bottom of the third and score three runs in the inning and assume a 6-2 cushion. After a leadoff walk by shortstop Brandon Crawford, Haerther lined a double to left field, advancing Crawford to third base. Designated hitter Cody Decker drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Center fielder Tim Murphy’s groundout in front of home plate scored Crawford. Dolan followed with an RBI-groundout to second base, allowing Haerther to score. Weisser followed with a single to left-center field, sending home Decker.
UCLA scored two more runs in the eighth inning, extending its lead to 8-2. Consecutive singles from Murphy, Dolan and left fielder Blair Dunlap loaded the bases with one out. A double to left field by catcher Ryan Babineau plated Murphy and Dolan.
The Bruins return to action against UNLV at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday, April 22. Game time is 6 p.m.
Game Notes: John Savage recorded his 100th victory as UCLA’s head coach, becoming just the third head coach in school history to lead the Bruins to 100 wins…Gavin Brooks has won each of his last three starts, posting a 2.42 ERA in those three games (22.1 innings, 18 strikeouts, .173 opponent batting average)…Alden Carrithers, who leads UCLA with a .390 batting average, notched his team-leading 17th multi-hit game of the season…in the three-game series against Stanford, the Bruins’ bullpen allowed just one unearned run in 11.1 innings – Matt Drummond recorded nine strikeouts in seven innings, and Brendan Lafferty logged four strikeouts in 4.1 scoreless innings.
(Tempe, AZ) – It was another wild and wacky Sunday in the Pac-10, as Arizona State withstood a late Oregon State rally to take the series finale 15-12 in front of 3,279 fans at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. With the win, the Sun Devils improve to 31-6 on the year, 7-5 in Pac-10 play.
The two teams went through a combined 12 pitchers (seven for OSU and five for ASU) and scored 27 runs on 26 hits. Beaver pitchers surrendered 13 walks and hit a batter. Neither starter made it through the second inning, as ASU’s Reyes Dorado was chased after 1.1 innings after allowing six runs on four hits. OSU’s Jorge Reyes lasted only 1.2 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits and taking the loss.
Stephen Sauer picked up the win for Arizona State to improve to 4-1. He entered in the second and lasted one inning, allowing only one hit and one walk. He was the beneficiary of a five run second inning by the ASU offense.
The Devils started fast for the first time all weekend when Brett Wallace homered off Reyes with two men on in the first. It was his 10th homer of the season and his first since March 22. That lead did not last long, as the Beavers pushed six across in the top of the second. Oregon State used four singles and a walk to force Dorado out and bring Sauer in. Sauer allowed a double that plated two and an RBI ground out before getting out of the inning.
Arizona State answered right back, scoring five times to take an 8-6 lead. Arizona State loaded the bases with two outs, setting up Brett Wallace’s two run single up the middle. That was all for Reyes, as he exited for Josh Osich, who was brought in to face Ike Davis. Davis, who sat out last night’s game with a lower leg injury, welcomes Osich to the game with a three-run blast onto Rural Road. It was the 15th homer of the season for Davis.
ASU would strike again in the third, scoring three to stretch their lead to 11-6. After two walks and an error loaded the bases once again, Rocky Laguna singled home a run. Greg Bordes brought another home with his RBI grounder, then Ryan Sontag singled to center to bring home another run.
The Beavers refused to go away, answering ASU in the sixth and cutting the lead to 11-9. The Beavers scored three runs in the inning, all with two outs. Tommy Rafferty was tagged for the runs before giving way to Ike Davis.
The Sun Devils responded in the bottom of the inning, thanks to free passes issued by Oregon State. Brett Wallace and Ike Davis led off the inning with walks, then were moved over on a Petey Paramore sacrifice bunt. Matt Newman was intentionally walked to load the bases for Raoul Torrez. Torrez made the Beavers pay, doubling down the left field line to clear the bases. Ryan Sontag would single home another run before the inning was over, putting ASU up 15-9.
OSU mounted a comeback in the ninth, but their three runs weren’t enough as the Devils held on to salvage the final game of the three game series.
Ike Davis pitched the final 3.1 innings, striking out five to earn his fourth save of the season. Seth Blair threw two thirds of an inning out of the bullpen, and Tommy Rafferty also went 2.2 innings.
Ryan Sontag was 3-6 with two RBI, while Brett Wallace went 3-5 with five runs batted in. Rocky Laguna had two hits and an RBI and Ike Davis and Raoul Torrez each brought home three.
Arizona State now travels to Fullerton, California for a two-game midweek series with Cal State Fullerton beginning Tuesday. They return to Tempe to host Cal in a three-game Pac-10 series that gets underway on Friday night.
(Tucson, AZ) – Arizona scored two runs in the eighth inning and left-hander Eric Berger tossed eight strong innings as the Wildcats won their 10th straight game with a series-sweeping 4-2 victory over Washington State at Kindall Field on Sunday.
The Cats improved to 25-11 overall and to 6-6 in the Pac-10, while the Cougars dropped to 19-18 for the year and 3-9 in the conference.
Tied 2-2 after seven and half innings, the Cats got an RBI single from Bobby Coyle and a sacrifice fly by Brad Glenn in the bottom of the eighth to rally for their first conference series sweep of the year.
Bryce Ortega started the rally with a one-out single up the middle off of WSU reliever James Wise. The Cougar right-hander then plunked T.J. Steele to place runners on first and second for Coyle.
The freshman outfielder, who finished the game 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, laced an opposite field single to left to plate Ortega with the go-ahead run and advance Steele to second. C.J. Ziegler followed with a five pitch walk to load the bases for Glenn.
Glenn, who scored the game-winning run in the 12th inning in the series opener on Friday and hit a walk-off homer in the ninth inning on Saturday, provided some breathing room with a sac fly to left to push the lead to 4-2.
Berger, who hadn’t made it out of the fourth inning in any of his last three starts, struck out eight and walked none in his longest outing since his return from Tommy John surgery. The left-hander allowed just single runs in the second and fifth and retired 11 straight WSU hitters over his final 3 2/3 innings of work. The dominating effort improved the junior to 4-2 on the year.
Closer Jason Stoffel replaced Berger in the ninth and worked around a leadoff walk to finish off the win for his seventh save of the year.
WSU’s Wise (0-2) was charged with the loss.
The Wildcats will take Monday off before hosting New Mexico for a two-game midweek series this Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch for the opener is slated for 6 p.m.
(Santa Barbara, CA) – Chuck Huggins pitched a complete game shutout, leading UC Santa Barbara (27-11) to its first ever three-game sweep of University of Southern California (19-19) in Head Coach Bob Brontsema’s tenure. Huggins (7-1) was masterful throughout, mixing fastballs and changeups all day long, allowing only five hits, while striking out seven and walking three.
Both starters were on early as the first hit of Sunday’s game came in the top of the third.
USC starter Ryan Cook (4-3) pitched well, but suffered the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits in 6.2 innings of work. A pair of errors by USC second baseman Hector Rabago led to Cook’s undoing in the seventh inning.
The Gauchos scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a bases loaded walk to designated hitter John DeAlba. After Cook loaded the bases by surrendering a base hit and two consecutive walks, he walked his third batter of the inning, forcing home the first run of the game.
The first extra-base hit didn’t come until the bottom of the seventh when Gaucho third baseman Patrick Rose tripled into the left center field gap. Catcher Matt McColgan followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Gauchos a 2-0 lead. Gunnar Terhune reached first on a Trojan fielding error in the following at bat, and then stole second base. With Terhune on second, Chris Fox laced an RBI single up the middle for the third UCSB run of the game. With one on and two out, Eric Oliver ripped a 1-2 offering from Cook over the right center field wall. Oliver’s two-run job, his second on the year, put the Gauchos in front, 5-0.
UCSB scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Matt McColgan’s RBI single through the left side of the infield, scored DeAlba for the sixth Gaucho run of the game.
Huggins made sure the lead would last, inducing Trojan right fielder Anthony Vasquez to fly out to left to end the ballgame.
Huggins complete game marked the second complete game of the series, as sophomore Mike Ford (5-2) pitched his first complete game in Friday’s opener. The Redwood City, Calif., native lowered his ERA to 3.47. Huggins’ seventh win on the year ensures him the top spot on the Big West leader board in wins. Huggins improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio to 59-to-17, as batters are now hitting a lowly .226 against the senior southpaw.
Oliver led the way offensively for the Gauchos, going 2-for-3 with one run scored and a two-run home run. McColgan added a pair of RBI in a 1-for-3 effort. Fox was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.
The Gauchos scored a remarkable 60 runs in four games this week, while limiting opponents to nine. Each Gaucho starter earned wins in the series over USC, as the starting rotation improved their combined record to an astounding 16-5. The Gauchos are hitting a combined .332 as a team and have scored a ridiculous 313 runs in 38 games played, an 8.2 average.
The Gauchos are running on all cylinders and look to have hit their stride at the perfect time with conference play on the horizon for the rest of the season.
UCSB resumes play on Tuesday, April 22 against Cal State Northridge at 1:00 p.m. at Matador Field. From there, the Gauchos head to San Luis Obispo for a three-game weekend set against the Mustangs.
