Series Clinched

LOS ANGELES – Keshawn Ogans delivered a go-ahead, bases-clearing double in the top of the fifth inning to lead California to a 4-2 victory and a Pac-12 series win over No. 18 UCLA Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
 
After UCLA's JonJon Vaughns snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, Cal responded with four runs of its own the following half inning and stifled UCLA the rest of the way to secure its second consecutive series win against a ranked opponent. In their past 13 games, the Golden Bears (28-23, 14-12 Pac-12) have won nine total games and five against teams with an RPI of 32nd or better.
 
Cal finally broke through in the fifth after leaving six runners on base through the first four frames. Ogans stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs after Nathan Martorella and Quentin Selma drew one-out walks to sandwich a single up the middle by Darren Baker. With a 2-2 count, Ogans roped a bases-clearing double into the left-center gap to put Cal in front. Cole Elvis sent Ogans home in the next at bat with an RBI single – his seventh hit of the series – and extended Cal's lead to 4-2, which would stand.
 
The four runs of support were all Cal's pitching staff needed to clinch the series Saturday. Despite not earning the decision, Sean Sullivan struck out three batters and scattered six hits over a 4.1-inning start; the junior right-hander made just one mistake on Vaughns' two-run long ball in the fourth frame, otherwise stranding five Bruins early on.
 
Ian Villers replaced Sullivan in the fifth with the tying run at first base and escaped the jam with a groundout and pop-out to Baker at second base. The clutch relief work continued in the sixth when Jack Wolger induced an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. Mitchell Scott continued his recent hot streak with two strikeouts in 1.1 hitless innings of work and Steven Zobac notched his fourth save with a quick ninth inning.
 
Villers (4-1) earned the win with his scoreless inning following Sullivan's exit. Cal chased UCLA starter Sean Mullen – who entered the game with a 9-1 record – after 4.1 innings and handed reliever Daniel Colwell (2-1) the loss.
 
NOTABLES

• Cal secured its first series win at UCLA since 2009 and improved to 5-3 against the Bruins under head coach Mike Neu.
• The Bears are 5-3 against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
• After a four-hit, five-RBI effort Friday, Cole Elvis stayed hot with a 3-for-4 performance Saturday. In three games played this week, Elvis is a combined 8-for-13 with seven RBI, three extra-base hits and three runs scored.
• Mitchell Scott hasn't allowed a hit in his past eight appearances and 10.1 innings pitched. In that span, Scott has 13 strikeouts.
• Darren Baker (1-for-4) pulled within six hits of the 200-hit milestone for his career.

 
UP NEXT
Cal can earn a series sweep of No. 18 UCLA on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. PDT at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
 
STAY POSTED
For coverage of Cal baseball, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalBaseball), Instagram (@CalBaseball) and Facebook (/CalBaseball/).