Bears Upended By Huskies In Opener

BERKELEY – California surrendered six unanswered runs from the seventh inning on in a series-opening 6-4 loss to Washington on Friday night at Stu Gordon Stadium. The Golden Bears committed a season-high five errors and left 10 runners on base as they lost their fourth consecutive series opener dating back to March 18.
 
With a 4-0 lead in hand and just two hits allowed by its pitching staff through six innings played, Cal (13-16, 5-8 Pac-12) committed two costly errors in the top of the seventh that led to a five-run frame by the Huskies. Four of the five runs scored by Washington in the inning were unearned, and the Huskies added another unearned run in the eighth to make it 6-4.
 
Josh White (0-4) was dealt the loss despite pitching effectively throughout the majority of his 3.2 innings pitched in relief. After serving as the Bears' Friday starter for seven consecutive weeks since the season began, White was brought out of the bullpen for the first time this season as head coach Mike Neu adjusted his weekend rotation. Cal used Ian May and Steven Zobac – who combined to hold Washington to just one hit over three scoreless innings – to open the contest before turning it over to White.
 
White was excellent through his first three innings, stifling the Huskies with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed. In addition to Cal's two defensive errors, the Huskies were able to get to White in the seventh with four hits, including three doubles.
 
The Bears got on the scoreboard in the second inning with a three-run home run by Nathan Martorella and added their fourth run on an RBI double in the right-center field gap from Trevor Tishenkel in the fifth. They managed just one hit over the final four innings, however, and were just 2-for-11 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
 
Martorella (3-for-5) was a triple shy of the cycle and continued a torrid stretch at the plate with his sixth-multi hit effort in the past eight games. He's now batting .322 for the season with a team-leading 11 doubles.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will attempt to even the series against Washington at 6 p.m. PDT Saturday. The contest will be televised on Pac-12 Network Washington from Stu Gordon Stadium.
 
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