Late Cal Home Runs Prove Costly As Dawgs Fall 6-3
BERKELEY, Calif. - It was a beautiful Spring evening in the Bay Area as the Huskies hit Evans Diamond at Stu Gordon Stadium looking to make it two in a row following last night's win in the first game of the series with California. Sophomore RHP Calvin Kirchoff got the start on the mound looking for his third win of the season and performed beautifully, seeing just four extra batters through four and two-thirds.
Top of 1
With one out, Johnny Tincher stepped in from the right side and pulled one that dropped into shallow left field. Coby Morales flew out to center field next, but Tincher was able to advance to second base. First baseman Will Simpson came to the plate next and drove a single to left center. With two outs Tincher was going on contact and easily scored for the Huskies first run of the game.
Bottom of 3
Cal's first batter of the inning hit a ball deep to left center, but center fielder McKay Barney took off like a rocket and laid out making a diving catch for the play of the game! Keeping that potential baserunner in the dugout proved crucial as the following batter homered to left center tying up the game at 1-1.
Bottom of 7
After coming in to get the third out of the fifth inning, Josh Emanuels continued by getting the job done in the sixth, but then ran into trouble. After giving up a leadoff single up the middle, a sacrifice bunt moved the runner along. It was of no consequence however, as the following batter homered to right field to put Cal up by 2. A single to right center followed and would soon score as the following batter doubled to center field. Stu Flesland III came in with one out and immediately gave up a single to third base. Soon after the runner on second tried to swipe third, but Tincher was having none of it and promptly fired him out. With two down, Flesland closed out the inning with a strikeout. Cal headed to the eighth up 4-1.
Bottom of 8
Aside from a Tincher single in the top half of the frame, his third of the game, the momentum was with Cal heading to the bottom of the eighth. The lead off batter hit a chopper up the middle. Josh Urps ranged over and made a great play, but couldn't quite get enough mustard on it to make the play back across his body to first. With one on, the next batter left little doubt sending one deep over the fence in left field. Cal would go down in order from there, but the insurance runs were on the board with a 6-1 score.
Top of 9
The Dawgs showed heart in the top half of the ninth. AJ Guerrero led off earning a full count walk. Coby Wallace singled to center field for his third hit of the game. Michael Brown pinch hit next for Michael Snyder and worked his magic doubling to center field scoring Guerrero and moving Wallace to third. Cam Clayton followed and drove a sacrifice fly deep to center scoring Wallace, but giving up a valuable out. Preston Viltz pinch hit for Urps and kept Husky hopes alive earning a full count walk. With runners on the corners, the tying run was at the plate. All eyes were on Barney. With a 1-2 count, he connected, but the comeback wasn't to be. A routine ground ball to second kicked off a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
Starter Calvin Kirchoff was solid as always going 4.2 innings, giving up just 1 earned run on 4 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts. Josh Emanuels took the loss moving to 1-2 on the year.