Spartans Rally in Sixth to Beat Cal, 10-6
BERKELEY, Calif.The Spartan baseball team scored seven runs in the sixth inning to come from behind and beat California, 10-6, at Evans Diamond Wednesday afternoon. The Spartans improve to 4-0 on the season, while the Bears lost their third straight
| Ryan Adams (pictured), Bryan Baker and Jordan Bergstrom had two RBI vs. Cal. |
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The Spartans (4-0) took advantage of mistakes from the Cal bullpen, scoring seven runs in the sixth off of relievers Jesse Ingram (0-2, 1.3 innings, one hit, three runs, two walks, two strikeouts), Matt Payne and Travis Talbott. The three combined for seven runs on four hits, two walks and hitting two batters. Finally, freshman Brent Hale got a strikeout to end the sixth inning and went on to retire 10 straight Spartans (3.3 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts).
"Obviously we knew we’d have to play a solid game," said Spartan head coach Sam Piraro, "They have a strong offense and took an early 3-0 lead, but we didn’t panic and we stuck to our game plan. We capitalized on a few mistakes they made and proved that we are capable of winning on the road."
Jahseam George would hold the lead and get the win for the Spartans, improving to 1-0 on the season. George would pitch 5 1/3 solid innings, allowing just one run and a hit off a homerun in the seventh from Cal third baseman Conor Jackson. He retired the first nine batters he faced before allowing the homerun and retired the side in order four innings. He walked just one and struck out five, including the last three batters in the ninth.
"What (Jahseam) George did out there was encouraging," continued Piraro. "He had excellent command of his pitches and he got stronger as the game went on."
Cal opened the first inning scoring three runs off the Spartans starting pitcher left-hander Frank Espositon who was replaced by Andy Cook with two men on base with two outs in the first. The Spartans rallied to tie the game in the third inning when center fielder Dino Quintero led off the inning reaching base on an error. Second baseman Gabe Lopez walked and Quintero advanced to third on a wild pitch, before being scored by left fielder Kevin Frandsen’s one-out single. Shortstop Ryan Adams scored home Gabe Lopez on groundout to the shortstop and first baseman Bryan Baker would score the last and tying run of the inning on a single to left.
The tie lasted just one inning before Cal took another lead. With the Bears' Nichols reaching first on a single, left fielder Ben Conley hit a run scoring double off Cook. Two batters later, Jackson would score Conley with a single before the Spartans looked to George to get out of the inning.
For the Spartans, Adams, Baker and designated hitter Jordan Bergstrom all had two RBI. Frandsen continued to show his defensive strength, laying out for two catches in left field to rob Cal of extra base hits.
The Spartans host the Cal Poly Mustangs in a three-game series this weekend. Friday the teams will face off at 2:30 p.m. at Municipal Stadium. Saturday the game is at 1:00 p.m. at Blethen Field and the series concludes 1:00 p.m. Sunday at Municipal Stadium.