Cal Knots Series With 15-1 Win
BERKELEY – Everything clicked for the Golden Bears Saturday afternoon at Evans Diamond as Cal blasted California Baptist, 15-1, to even the weekend series. Nathan Manning led the way with a career day, going 5-for-5 with four runs batted in.
A day after being held scoreless for the first time this season in a 7-0 series-opening loss, Cal (11-7) cranked out a season-high 17 hits in the 15-run effort, highlighted by a seven-hit, seven-run sixth inning that put the Bears in total control. The performance on the mound was no less superb; Sean Sullivan and Josh White combined for 12 strikeouts, zero walks issued, three hits surrendered and one unearned run allowed.
Sullivan (2-2) earned the win and set the tone by retiring the first nine Lancers he faced. He'd end up allowing just two hits across six innings pitched while striking out seven CBU batters.
Manning delivered Cal's first run of the game in the bottom of the second, singling home Quentin Selma. The sophomore, who made just his second career start Saturday, tallied RBI singles in his following three at bats in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. He made it a perfect 5-for-5 in the eighth when he reached on an infield single.
Leading 3-1, Cal scored four runs in the fifth to break it open. Steven Zobac scored from first base on a double by Selma, who later crossed home plate on a wild pitch. John Lagattuta tripled to score Nathan Martorella before scoring on a Manning single. The explosive seven-run sixth inning was powered by RBI singles from Dylan Beavers, Lagattuta and Manning, as well as a two-run double to deep center field by Cole Elvis.
With a 13-run lead in hand heading into the seventh, Cal turned to White on the mound. The right-hander earned a three-inning save and struck out five batters while allowing just one hit across 10 batters faced.
NOTABLES
- Nathan Manning is the first Bear with a five-hit game since Cameron Eden on May 23, 2019. Manning, Eden and Andrew Vaughn are the only Bears with five-hit games in the past six seasons (since 2016).
- John Lagattuta (3-for-4) had a career-high three hits, including Cal's first triple of the year.
- Saturday was the first time this season that Cal has not issued a walk. Sean Sullivan has not surrendered a walk in his past 12 innings pitched across two starts.
- Josh White owns a 34-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 23.1 innings pitched this season.
- Dylan Beavers (1-for-4) extended his hit streak to 11 games.
- Darren Baker (23), Dylan Beavers (19), Quentin Selma (17) and Steven Zobac (15) all extended their reached-base streaks.
- Quentin Selma (2-for-2) tied a career-high with three runs scored.
UP NEXT
Rubber match on deck. Cal and CBU wrap up the weekend series at 12 p.m. PDT (noon) Sunday at Evans Diamond.
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