Cal Drops Series Opener

TUCSON, Ariz. – California came up short in a 5-1 series-opening loss to No. 22 Arizona Friday night at Hi Corbett Field.
 
The Golden Bears (16-12, 4-3 Pac-12) were quiet at the plate for a second straight game, leaving 10 runners on base in a seven-hit night that included six singles. Arizona (20-8, 6-4) utilized a four-run fifth inning to take the series lead.
 
Cal received a gritty effort by Grant Holman on the mound, who tossed four innings in his third start of the season since returning from an injury. The right-hander limited Arizona's potent lineup to one run on four hits and struck out three batters before leaving the game after 83 pitches thrown and four complete frames.
 
With the bats still searching for an opportunity, the Bears turned it over to Sam Stoutenborough out of the bullpen with a 1-0 deficit in the fifth. After retiring the first batter he faced, Stoutenborough got into trouble when the Wildcats converted five consecutive hits into four runs and extended their lead to 5-0. Stoutenborough lasted two-thirds of the fifth inning before leaving with an injury.
 
Ian Villers, Vaughn Mauterer and Jack Wolger handled duties on the mound the rest of the way and combined for three scoreless innings.
 
Cal didn't have an answer offensively against a trio of Arizona pitchers Friday night. Outside of a three-hit night by John Lagattuta, the rest of Cal's lineup was a combined 4-for-29 at the plate. Wildcat starter Chase Silseth picked up the win, going 6.1 innings with six strikeouts.
 
The Bears put five runners in scoring position throughout the contest, including three in the top of the ninth after loading the bases with no outs. Cal sent eight batters to the plate in the ninth but scored just once on a sacrifice fly by Keshawn Ogans that brought home Nathan Martorella.
 
NOTABLES

• Cal's five pitchers issued just two walks to Arizona. It's the 19th time in 28 games that Cal has surrendered three walks or less.
• Darren Baker (1-for-3, two walks) and Nathan Manning (1-for-5) extended their reached-base streaks to 33 and 13 games.
• Grant Holman has allowed just two runs on six hits across 11.2 innings pitched this season.
• John Lagattuta (3-for-4) tied his career high in hits and recorded his fifth multi-hit game.
• Vaughn Mauterer has tallied three straight scoreless relief appearances dating back to April 1.

 
UP NEXT
The weekend series resumes with game two at 6 p.m. (PDT) Saturday in Tucson. Sean Sullivan will get the start on the mound for Cal.
 
STAY POSTED
For coverage of Cal baseball, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalBaseball), Instagram (@CalBaseball) and Facebook (/CalBaseball/).