Bears Stumble In Series Finale

BERKELEY – California cranked out 14 hits including Dylan Beavers' Pac-12-leading 10th home run of the season, but the Golden Bears came up short in a 13-9 loss to No. 6 Oregon State on Sunday afternoon at Stu Gordon Stadium.
 
Cal rallied from an early four-run deficit and carried a 6-5 lead into the seventh inning, but ultimately saw an array of mistakes prove costly in the series-deciding loss to Oregon State (16-5, 6-3 Pac-12). An uncharacteristically poor defensive performance by Cal was underscored by three throwing errors, three balks and two wild pitches; five of OSU's first nine runs were scored as a direct result of the miscues.
 
OSU has won 10 consecutive series against Cal (11-12, 4-5) dating back to 2011.
 
The Golden Bears cut into a 5-1 deficit in the fifth when Nathan Martorella doubled off the center field wall to score Keshawn Ogans before Beavers drove a two-run home run to left-center in the following at bat. Beavers (1-for-5) homered in all three games and knocked in eight runs throughout the weekend. An inning later, Ogans delivered a two-run single through the right side of the infield to push Cal ahead, 6-5.
 
The lead was short-lived as OSU scored four times in the following half frame and reclaimed the lead for good. OSU's first four batters in the inning reached base safely with a walk and three singles – the latter of which was a two-RBI knock from Travis Bazzana – and two more runs came home on a wild pitch and a balk. Chris Stamos (1-1) took the loss after allowing the first three of OSU's four runs in the seventh inning.
 
A solo home run by Hance Smith and an RBI single from Nathan Manning in the eighth brought Cal back within one run, 9-8, and kept the pressure on the visiting Beavers. By the time Cal grabbed its bats again in the ninth, however, OSU had already punched back with a grand slam from Tanner Smith in the top half that made it 13-8. The Bears managed one run in the ninth on an RBI single from Caleb Lomavita.
 
Ian May lasted four innings in his second career start, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out four Beavers. Cal used seven pitchers in the loss.
 
All 10 Bears who earned a plate appearance tallied at least one hit. Ogans (2-for-3) drove in three runs and extended his hitting streak to 13 games while Smith (2-for-3) scored three times and recorded his team-leading eighth double along with his solo home run in the eighth.
 
UP NEXT
Cal's five-game homestand concludes Tuesday against Saint Mary's. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. PDT from Stu Gordon Stadium.
 
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