Cal Baseball Takes On No. 2 Oregon State

Fri., May 2    Oregon State, Evans Diamond, Berkeley, Calif.     7 p.m.
Sat., May 3    Oregon State, Evans Diamond, Berkeley, Calif.      6 p.m.
Sun., May 4    Oregon State, Evans Diamond, Berkeley, Calif.      1 p.m.

KALX, 90.7 FM will be broadcasting the May 2-4 Oregon State-Cal games. Live stats available at Cal Baseball Live Stats. Cal Baseball Facebook, Cal BaseballTwitter @Cal_Baseball

Cal (19-21, 7-11) Entertains No. 2 Beavers (31-8, 14-4)

BEAR NOTES: Cal baseball (19-21, 7-11) faces its toughest challenge of the year when it faces its highest-ranked opponent in No. 2 Oregon State (31-8, 14-4 first in the Pac-12), May 2-4, at Evans Diamond. The Golden Bears have won three of their last four games, including winning two-of-three April 26-28 at Bay Area rival Stanford and topping San Francisco, 1-0, Tuesday night on senior first baseman Devon Rodriguez’s homer. Rodriguez is now batting .275 with six doubles, four home runs and a team-high 23 RBI; and has collected six hits with five RBI in the last four games. The Bears have eight victories over ranked teams this season and went undefeated in earlier tournaments at Auburn, Ala. and in San Diego. Offensively, the Bears are led by Rodriguez, junior outfielder Derek Campbell and junior designated hitter Brenden Farney. Campbell is second in the Pac-12 with five home runs and has 16 RBI. Farney is batting .300 with four doubles and 16 RBI and had the game-winning RBI in the Bears’ 7-4, 10-inning victory April 26 at Stanford. Both Rodriguez and Campbell were key players for the Bears in their 2011 College World Series run. Cal is also bolstered by the return of senior shortstop Mike Reuvekamp, who was out March 16-April 22 with an injured hand, but went 4-for-11 with a double at Stanford. On the mound, freshman right-hander Daulton Jefferies, senior left-hander Kyle Porter and sophomore right-hander Ryan Mason are the slated rotation for the Bears versus Oregon State, while senior reliever Trevor Hildenberger has been the workhorse out of the bullpen with a team-high 23 appearances (fourth in Pac-12) and is fifth in the conference with eight saves (3-2, 2.60 ERA, 34 strikeouts and only five walks in 34.2 innings). Jefferies (2-4, 3.27 ERA) started his college career throwing consecutive shutouts versus Texas (6.0 innings, six hits, one walk, four strikeouts Feb. 14) and East Tennessee State (7.0 innings, two hits, three walks, four strikeouts Feb. 21). Porter (4-5 with a 3.19 ERA, 10th in Pac-12 with 52 strikeouts) had a solid outing March 22 at No. 3 Cal Poly (5.1 innings, five hits, three runs, no walks, four strikeouts) giving the Mustangs (36-7) one of their seven losses this year. Mason (4-0, 2.77 ERA) had his best outing of the year in the April 19, 7-1 win over  then No. 6-ranked Washington (7.0 innings, five hits, one run, one walk, two strikeouts), and came back with another top performance April 28 at Stanford, throwing 8.0 innings, six hits, four earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts. 

Cal Tentative Line-Up
No.    Pos.    Player    2014 Stats
23    CF    Aaron Knapp, Fr.    .230, 7 RBI, 1 HR    
2    RF    Derek Campbell, Jr.      .255, 16 RBI, 5 HR    
33    1B    Devon Rodriguez, Sr.    .275, 23 RBI, 4 HR
21    DH    Brenden Farney, So.    .300, 16 RBI, 0 HR
17    3B    Lucas Erceg, Fr.    .229, 6 RBI, 2 HR
25    LF    Brian Celsi, So.    .267, 11 RBI, 0 HR
30    C    Mitchell Kranson, So.    .235, 11 RBI, 0 HR
20    2B    Robbie Tenerowicz, Fr.    .103, 2 RBI, 1 HR
37    SS    Mike Reuvekamp, Sr.    .222, 1 RBI, 0 HR    
24    RHP    Daulton Jefferies, Fr. (Fri.)    2-4, 3.27 ERA
16    LHP    Kyle Porter, Sr. (Sat.)    4-5, 3.19 ERA
42    RHP    Ryan Mason, So. (Sun.)    4-0, 2.77 ERA

HEAD COACH DAVID ESQUER: Esquer, 48, is in his 15th season with a career record of 425-390-2 (.521). After his team was scheduled to be discontinued following the 2011 season, Esquer led the Bears to the program’s first appearance at the College World Series since 1992, and on the eve of Cal’s 7-3 CWS victory over Texas A&M June 21, 2011, was named the National Coach of the Year by the National College Baseball Writers Association. Esquer’s award, which was voted on by the NCBWA Board of Directors, was selected from a list that included all Division I Conference Coaches of the Year and the coaches of the 16 NCAA Super Regional teams. The Bears’ program was reinstated through fund-raising efforts and made its sixth all-time appearance in the CWS. Esquer led Cal out of the loser’s bracket in the Houston Regional and defeated Dallas Baptist in the Super Regional to advance to Omaha. Cal entered the 2011 NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid out of the Pac-10.  After a 6-4 loss to Baylor in the opening game, Esquer’s team got past Alcorn State, 10-6, and No. 13 Rice, 6-3, to face Baylor for the regional championship. Cal forced the if-necessary game with an 8-0 shutout behind the strong pitching performance of freshman left-hander Kyle Porter (three hits, no runs, no walks and a career-high nine strikeouts). First baseman Devon Rodriguez earned Most Outstanding Player of the Houston Regional honors with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to lead Cal’s dramatic come-from-behind 9-8 victory over Baylor to advance to the Super Regional against Dallas Baptist. The Bears, led by 2011 Pac-10 Player of the Year Tony Renda, swept Dallas Baptist, 7-0 and 6-2, in Santa Clara to advance to the CWS. It was the fourth appearance by Cal in the NCAA Tournament in Esquer’s tenure, including three NCAA regionals in the last four years (the first time in school history). He was the 2001 Pac-10 Coach of the Year after the Bears went 34-25 and played in the Baton Rouge Regional (1-2). In 2008, Cal was 33-21-2 and competed in the Long Beach Regional, and in 2010 the Bears were 29-25 and played in the Norman, Okla. Regional (0-2). Sixty seven Bears have signed pro contracts under Esquer, including first round picks Brett Jackson (CF, Chicago Cubs, 31st overall) in 2009, David Cooper (1B, Toronto, 17th overall) in 2008, Brandon Morrow (RHP, Seattle, fifth overall) in 2006 and Conor Jackson (INF., Arizona, 19th overall) in 2003. Esquer came to Cal after serving as top assistant at Pepperdine (1996-99), and No. 2 assistant at Stanford (1991-96). A shortstop at Stanford (1984-87), he started on the 1987 College World Series championship team, earning All-Tournament honors. Esquer played professionally for four seasons with Baltimore, California and Milwaukee.

NOTING OREGON STATE: Oregon State, coached by Pat Casey (20th year at OSU, 701-397-4, .638), is 31-8 (14-4 Pac-12), last sweeping Oregon (3-1, 4-2, 7-1) April 25-27 in Corvallis. Top hitters for the Beavers are junior left fielder Michael Conforto (.410, 4 HR, 44 RBI), sophomore center fielder Jeff Hendrix (.359, 0 HR, 17 RBI) and junior right fielder Dylan Davis (.282, 4 HR, 47 RBI). Oregon State’s rotation is senior left-hander Ben Wetzler (7-1, 0.73 ERA), sophomore right-hander Andrew Moore (4-3, 2.87 ERA) and junior left-hander Jace Fry (8-1, 1.76 ERA).

SERIES RECORD: Cal has a 36-36 all-time record versus Oregon State. Last season, the Bears were swept (6-1, 5-0, 6-4) May 3-5, 2013 at Goss Stadium. The last time Cal played the Beavers in Berkeley, they were swept (9-2, 4-1, 13-5) March 17-18, 2012 at Evans Diamond. The Bears last victory over OSU was, 6-2, May 7, 2011 in Corvallis.

2014 PAC-12 STANDINGS (4-30-14)
                                Conference       Overall           
                                  W    L    PCT    W    L     T    .PCT
Oregon State*        14    4    .778    31    8    0    .795
Washington            16    5    .762    29    11    1    .720
Arizona State*         12    9    .571    24    17    0    .585
USC                          12    9    .571    24    18    0    .571
Oregon*                   10    8    .556    31    13    0    .705
UCLA**                      9    9    .500    22    19    1    .536
Washington State    8    10    .444    18    22    0    .450
Stanford                     7    11    .389    19    19    0    .500
CALIFORNIA             7    11    .389    19    21    0    .475
Arizona                       7    14    .333    18    25    0    .419
Utah                            3    15    .167    13    25    0    .342

**2013 National Champions
*2013 NCAA Tournament participant

CAL BASEBALL AMONG PAC-12 STAT LEADERS: The Bears are currently second the Pac-12 with 17 home runs and are fourth with 11 saves. Junior outfielder Derek Campbell is second in the conference with five home runs and senior first baseman Devon Rodriguez is fourth with four home runs. Senior right-hander Trevor Hildenberger is fourth with 23 appearances and fifth in the Pac-12 with eight saves, and senior left-hander Kyle Porter is 10th with 52 strikeouts.

CAL’S 2014 HIGHLIGHTS: Cal’s highlights so far in 2014 have been winning two games over No. 8 Texas to start the season, including a season-opening 7-0 shutout…going undefeated at both the Auburn Tiger Classic (with a 3-0 shutout of East Tennessee State and 5-0 shutout of host Auburn) and the University of San Diego Tournament (two wins over Baylor and a win over host San Diego)…producing two wins over Arkansas during the Cal Baseball Classic…an 8-3 win at No. 5 Cal Poly…a Pac-12 sweep of Utah with a game-winning double by sophomore catcher Mitchell Kranson and a game-winning home run versus junior shortstop Derek Campbell.

CAL BASEBALL ON FACEBOOK: Cal baseball fans can enjoy videos, photos and other Golden Bear highlights on the official Cal Baseball Facebook page  Cal Baseball Facebook page.

BETTER THAN EVER EVANS DIAMOND: Evans Diamond, which has served as the home of Cal baseball since 1933, received a major upgrade with the installation of a new lighting system and scoreboard last spring. Eight 90-foot light poles were erected around the field that now support nighttime television broadcasts, team practice and training. A modern electronic scoreboard, measuring 38 feet wide by 31 feet high, was also installed in left-center field. The new scoreboard offers scoring, game information, as well as fixed advertising and a full color video board measuring 24 feet wide by 14 feet high. Entering the 2013 season, Cal was the only Pac-12 school without permanent lighting at its baseball facility. With the Pac-12 Networks showing eight Cal home games this season, the ability to play night games gives Cal maximum opportunity to be televised by the Networks. In addition, the upgrades will allow the Bears to be eligible to host NCAA Regional contests at Evans. The project was funded by a combination of donations and increased ticket and sponsorship revenue as a result of the upgrade. The first-ever night-time competition at Evans Diamond was March 28 for the Bears’ 2013 Pac-12 opener against USC in front of a record crowd of 2,133 fans. The new scoreboard was first unveiled May 10, 2013 versus Arizona State. The project was designed by Brereton Architects of San Francisco and constructed under the direction of Overaa Construction of Richmond.

PORTER’S FRESHMAN PERFORMANCES: In what would have to be considered one of the best freshman pitching performances in Cal baseball history, senior left-hander Kyle Porter was 6-0 with a 1.89 ERA and two saves (four starts and 25 appearances) in 2011. Porter also had 57 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 57.0 innings and was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers. He had one of the biggest wins in school history when on June 21, 2011 he pitched 6.0 innings (seven hits, three runs, one walk, four strikeouts) versus Texas A&M to help give the Bears their first victory (7-3) in the College World Series since 1980. Porter was a member of the 2011 Houston Regional All-Tournament Team as well after throwing a career-high 6.2 innings with three hits, no runs, two walks and a career-high nine strikeouts June 5 versus Baylor in the Houston Regional.

QUICK BEAR HITS: As a freshman, Derek Campbell filled in for an injured Tony Renda (pulled right quad) at second base for the 2011 Super Regional and CWS, hitting .389 (7-for-18, 2B, three RBI) and playing solid defensively...Campbell, drafted in the 36th round by the Chicago Cubs last June, is back after suffering a broken leg March 3, 2013 at Houston...senior outfielder Vince Bruno returns after redshirting last season after hip surgery. Bruno batted .323 overall and .321 versus the Pac-12 in 2012 and was honorable mention all-conference in 2011...senior right-hander Trevor Hildenberger had only 11 appearances prior to last season, but developed a sidearm delivery and won five games with a save in 2013, including a career-high 7.0 innings with five strikeouts versus Washington April 27.

BEARS IN THE BIG LEAGUES: Cal features eight former players on Major League 2014 opening day rosters, among the most of any school in the nation – catcher John Baker (Chicago Cubs), first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig (St. Louis Cardinals), right-hander Erik Johnson (Chicago White Sox), right-hander Brandon Morrow (Toronto Blue Jays), first baseman/outfielder Xavier Nady (San Diego Padres), right-hander Tyson Ross (San Diego Padres), first baseman/second baseman Josh Satin (New York Mets) and third baseman Marcus Semien (Chicago White Sox). All eight of Cal’s pro players competed for David Esquer, from Xavier Nady in 2000 to Erik Johnson and Marcus Semien in 2009-11. April 13, 2014 was quite a day for Golden Bears in MLB. Ross had seven strikeouts in seven innings and Nady hit a 422 foot home run as San Diego defeated Detroit, 5-1. Dating back to 2012, Nady’s last three big league hits have all been home runs. Semien also hit a home run on the same day for the Chicago White Sox and managers Bryan Price (Reds) and Bob Melvin (A’s) led their teams to victories.

BEAR POSTSEASON NOTES: Cal is now 43-25 (.632) in NCAA postseason games all-time, including 7-3 in 2011 (1-2 in the CWS, 2-0 in first-ever NCAA Super Regional and 4-1 in the NCAA Houston Regional). Head coach David Esquer has eight postseason wins, passing George Wolfman for second on the school’s all-time list behind Bob Milano’s 20 postseason wins. The last time the Bears won six postseason games in a row was 1957, and the seven postseason wins is the most for a Cal squad since the 1980 team had eight. Cal’s 38 victories in 2011 were the most wins since the Bears’ 1988 CWS squad won 40 games. 

CAL IN THE WORLD SERIES: With the 7-3 victory over Texas A&M on June 21, 2011, the Bears won their first College World Series game since defeating Miami, 4-3, on June 12, 1980. When Cal played Virginia in front of a crowd of 25,833 on June 23 at TD Ameritrade Park, it was the largest crowd to ever watch the Golden Bears play baseball. Cal won the inaugural College World Series title in 1947 under head coach Clint Evans, defeating former President George Bush’s Yale team, 8-7, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Evans was instrumental in establishing the CWS. The Bears won the national title again in 1957 under head coach George Wolfman with a 1-0 victory over Penn State. Cal also placed third in the 1980 World Series under head coach Bob Milano, and was seventh in the CWS in 1988 and 1992 under Milano. 2011 senior left fielder Austin Booker’s father, Rod, was the starting shortstop on the Bears’ 1980 squad, while Major League star Jeff Kent was a member of Cal’s 1988 College World Series team. Similar to the 2011 season in which they faced the tournament’s No. 1 seed (Virginia), the Bears played the top seed in 1992, Miami, losing to the Hurricanes, 4-3, in 13 innings.

CAL FACTS

Cal won the inaugural College World Series title in 1947, defeating former President George H.W. Bush’s Yale team, 8-7, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Bears’ program began in 1892 and is now in its 122nd season. George Bush, Sr., sent a letter of congratulations to David Esquer following Cal’s 2011 College World Series appearance.

The Golden Bears have had two players go on to become league MVPs in professional baseball – Jackie Jensen was the American League MVP in 1958 and Jeff Kent was the National League MVP in 2001.
 
Cal is one of only 20 schools to win NCAA Baseball titles and one of 14 schools with more than one national title (1947, 1957). The Bears have competed in six CWS (1947, 1957, 1980, 1988, 1992, 2011).

Geoff Blum, Cal’s starting shortstop as a freshman on the Bears’ 1992 College World Series team, had a game-winning homer for the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 Major League World Series.

Cal has three coaches in the ABCA Hall of Fame – Clint Evans (1930-54, led the Bears to the first CWS title in 1947); George Wolfman (1955-73, led Cal to the 1957 CWS title); and Bob Milano (1978-99, led the Bears to three CWS appearances (1980, 1988, 1992), including a third-place finish in 1980.

CAL INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES:

22 Vince Bruno, Sr., OF
* Batting .260 (25-for-96, .214 vs. Pac-12) with 2-2B, two HR, 8 RBI
* Was 3-for-3 with a HR April 5 at WSU
* Went 2-for-3 with a HR and career-high 4 RBI Feb. 28 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff
* Was 5-for-9 with an RBI Feb. 14-16 vs. Texas  

2 Derek Campbell, Jr., OF/SS
* Batting .255 (37-for-145, .262 vs. Pac-12) with 8-2B, 5 HR (2nd in Pac-12), 16 RBI
* Was 3-for-4 with game-winning HR March 20 vs. Utah
* Had two-run HR March 23 at Cal Poly
* Was 2-for-5 with two-run 2B, three-run HR for career-high 5 RBI March 1 vs. Baylor
* Hit lead-off 2B and scored winning run in 2-1 win over Texas Feb. 15
* Was 3-for-4 with two doubles in season-opener vs. Texas Feb. 14

25 Brian Celsi, So., OF
* Batting .267 (20-for-75, .333 vs. Pac-12) with 2-2B, 3B, 10 RBI
* Was 7-for-12 (.583) with 5 RBI vs. Utah March 28-30
* Is 7-for-22 (.318) with runners in scoring position

17 Lucas Erceg, Fr., 3B/RHP
* Batting .229 (11-for-48, .258 vs. Pac-12) with 2B, 2-HR, 6 RBI
* Hit HR April 22 at Fresno State
* Went 2-for-4 with home run April 17 vs. Washington

21 Brenden Farney, Jr., DH/INF
* Batting .300 (27-for-90, .267 vs. Pac-12) with 4-2B, 16 RBI
* Went 2-for-4 with a 2B and 4 RBI March 24 at Cal Poly
* Was 3-for-3 with a 2B March 9 vs. Arkansas
* Is 12-for-27 (.444) with runners in scoring position

19 Nick Halamandaris, So., 1B
* Batting .262 (33-for-126, .214 vs. Pac-12) with 9-2B, 12 RBI
* Went 5-for-11 with 2-2B April 11-13 at ASU
* Was 7-for-10 with 3-2B and HR March 22-24 at Cal Poly

26 Trevor Hildenberger, Sr. RHP
* 3-2 with 2.60 ERA and 8 saves (5th in Pac-12) with 34 k’s, 5 BB in 34.2 innings
* Earned a win and save last weekend at Stanford and a win and two saves March 28-30 vs. Utah
* Earned save with one hit and 4 k’s in 3.2 innings March 22 at Cal Poly
* Earned save March 9 vs. Arkansas (3.0 innings, 2 k’s)
* Earned two saves vs. Baylor March 1-3 (2 k’s in 2.1 innings)
* Earned save Feb. 21 vs. E. Tenn. St. with 4 k’s in 2.0 innings

24 Daulton Jefferies, Fr., RHP
* 2-4 with 3.27 ERA and 41 k’s in 66.0 innings
* Shut out E. Tennessee State Feb. 21 with 7.0 innings, 2 hits, 3 walks and 8 k’s
* Was the Feb. 18 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week after shutting out No. 18 Texas Feb. 14 in college debut (6.0 innings, 6 hits, 1 BB, 4 k’s

23 Aaron Knapp, Fr., OF
* Batting .230 (14-for-61, .289 vs. Pac-12) with 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI
* Had an RBI triple April 22 at Fresno State
* Was 6-for-13 in UW series, including 3-5 April 19
* Had inside the park HR March 22 at Cal Poly with 3 RBI

42 Ryan Mason, So., RHP
* 4-0 with 2.77 ERA, 19 k’s in 39.0 innings
* Won April 28 at Stanford (8.0 innings, 6 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 BB, 3 k’s)
* Won April 19 vs. UW (7.0 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 BB, 2 k’s)
* Won in relief March 1 vs. Baylor (one k in 2.0 innings)
* Won in relief Feb. 12 vs. Texas (3 k’s in 3.0 innings)

30 Mitchell Kranson, So., C
* Batting .235 (23-for-98, .327 vs. Pac-12) with 8-2B, 11 RBI
* Went 3-for-3 with RBI April 19 vs. Washington
* Was 3-for-4 with 2B, RBI April 6  at Washington State

6 Chris Paul, Jr., 3B
* Batting .247 (20-for-81, .162 vs. Pac-12) with 4-2B and a triple
* Had an eight-game hitting streak and went 3-for-5 with an RBI triple March 24 at Cal Poly
* Went 2-for-3 with two doubles March 3 vs. Baylor

27 Devin Pearson, So., CF
* Batting .168 (18-for-107, .081 vs. Pac-12) with a 2B, 2-3B and nine RBI
* Went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI March 7 vs. Tulane
* Had the game-winning RBI Feb. 15 vs. Texas
* Is 9-for-28 (.321) with runners in scoring position

16 Kyle Porter, Sr., LHP
* 4-5 with 3.19 ERA and had a career-high 11 k’s in career-high 8.2 innings March 29 vs. Utah
* Won March 22 at Cal Poly (5.1 innings, 4 k’s)
* Won March 9 vs. Arkansas (5.2 innings, 4 hits, one unearned run, 3 k’s)
* Won March 3 at San Diego (5.1 innings, 6 hits, one run, one walk, 3 k’s)

37 Mike Reuvekamp, Sr., SS
* Batting .222 (12-for-54, .375 vs. Pac-12) with 4-2B, RBI
* Went 2-for-4 April 28 at Stanford
* Was 2-for-3 with 2B March 14 vs. UCLA

33 Devon Rodriguez, Sr., 1B
* Batting .275 (39-for-142, .275 vs. Pac-12) with 6-2B, 4-HR, team-high 23 RBI
* Hit a HR and key two-run single April 11-13 at ASU
* Had a 2B, 3 RBI March 9 vs. Arkansas
* Was 2-for-3 with HR, 2 RBI Feb. 23 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff
* Is 16-for-46 (.348) with runners in scoring position