Cal Drops Series Finale
MORAGA, Calif. – A six-run second inning by Saint Mary's gave California an early deficit that it could not overcome, resulting in an 8-3 loss to the Gaels on Sunday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field.
The Golden Bears (7-5) still claimed the series victory despite falling in the finale, as they took three of four games against Saint Mary's (6-6). Cal freshman Paulshawn Pasqualotto took the loss on the mound, surrendering the six runs in the second inning. He made it through the fourth frame before Cal turned to the bullpen.
Saint Mary's put its first six batters on base in the second inning and plated runs in five consecutive at bats, capped by a two-run home run from Justin Banks, his first of two home runs Sunday. Pasqualotto (1-2) kept the Gaels quiet in the third and fourth frames before being relieved by Nick Proctor, but Cal couldn't muster enough offensive firepower to erase the deficit.
The Bears cut the SMC lead to four with a sacrifice fly by Steven Zobac in the fourth and an RBI single by Dylan Beavers in the fifth. After the Gaels stretched their lead back out to six by the end of the eighth, Cal added its third and final run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single from Zobac.
Proctor tossed 3.2 innings of relief and struck out four batters while allowing two runs on five hits.
Ryan Taurek earned the win for Saint Mary's, limiting Cal to two runs on four hits across the first five innings of the contest.
NOTABLES
- Darren Baker, Steven Zobac and John Lagattuta had two hits apiece.
- Baker, Jag Burden and Dylan Beavers all stole a base. Baker now has seven swipes in eight attempts on the season.
- Joe Ammirato recorded the final out of the eighth inning while making his second appearance on the mound in as many days.
UP NEXT
Cal shifts its focus to another four-game series next weekend, this time against Loyola Marymount. The series starts at 5 p.m. PT Friday, March 12 at Evans Diamond in Berkeley.
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