From Arizona Athletics
Despite scoring eight runs over their final two innings, the Arizona Wildcats dropped the series finale to Cal on Sunday, 12-11, at Evans Diamond.
Arizona’s bid for a comeback came up just short when Cal’s Erik Martinez struck out Ryan Haug for the final out of the game with the tying run on first base. The loss dropped Arizona to 29-20 on the season and 10-14 in Pac-12 play. Cal completed the sweep of the Cats to improve to 29-19 and 14-13 in the league.
The Golden Bears jumped out to a 6-0 lead when they put up a six-spot on the scoreboard in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.
The Wildcats cut it to 6-3 in the sixth inning with a three-run frame. All three runs came with two outs. Cesar Salazar started the inning by being hit by a pitch. After a couple of quick outs, Tate Soderstrom singled to move Salazar up a base to second. Cameron Cannon then doubled on a 1-2 pitch to left field to score Salazar and get the Wildcats on the board.
The next batter, Donta Williams, singled to center to score Soderstrom and Cannon and make it a 6-3 game.
The Golden Bears answered right back, scoring six more runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 12-3 lead and seemingly put the game out of reach.
However, Arizona wasn’t done and gave it a run. Nick Quintana led off the eighth with a walk and moved to third when Tate Soderstrom hit a hard ground ball under first baseman Andrew Vaughn’s glove that went as an error. Cameron Cannon then walked to load the bases with no outs.
After a fly out, freshman shortstop Jacob Blas singled to shortstop to plate Quintana. Cal Stevenson then brought Soderstrom home on an RBI groundout. Alfonso Rivas made it 12-7 with a two-run single to score Blas and Canyon and tighten things up at Evans Diamond.
Senior Jason Seever tossed a scoreless ninth to keep it a four-run game and give the Wildcats one more chance in the ninth.
Soderstrom started the rally with a one-out single and moved to third on Cannon’s third double of the game. Williams reached on an error by Vaughn to score Soderstrom and Cannon to make it 12-9. Blas followed with a double to left-center to score Williams and cut it 12-10.
After a fly out, Rivas collected his third hit of the game to score Blas and make it a 12-11 game. But Martinez struck out Haug swinging to end the game and preserve the 12-11 win.
Rivas finished 3 for 6 with three RBI in the loss. Blas was 3 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Cannon was 3 for 4 with his three doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. Salazar was 1 for 2 with a run scored to run his hitting streak to 11 games.
Juan Aguilera took the loss for Arizona, his first of the season. He fell to 6-1 on the year, going four innings and giving up six runs.
The Cats return to action Monday night at Sacramento State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Despite scoring eight runs over their final two innings, the Arizona Wildcats dropped the series finale to Cal on Sunday, 12-11, at Evans Diamond.
Arizona’s bid for a comeback came up just short when Cal’s Erik Martinez struck out Ryan Haug for the final out of the game with the tying run on first base. The loss dropped Arizona to 29-20 on the season and 10-14 in Pac-12 play. Cal completed the sweep of the Cats to improve to 29-19 and 14-13 in the league.
The Golden Bears jumped out to a 6-0 lead when they put up a six-spot on the scoreboard in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.
The Wildcats cut it to 6-3 in the sixth inning with a three-run frame. All three runs came with two outs. Cesar Salazar started the inning by being hit by a pitch. After a couple of quick outs, Tate Soderstrom singled to move Salazar up a base to second. Cameron Cannon then doubled on a 1-2 pitch to left field to score Salazar and get the Wildcats on the board.
The next batter, Donta Williams, singled to center to score Soderstrom and Cannon and make it a 6-3 game.
The Golden Bears answered right back, scoring six more runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 12-3 lead and seemingly put the game out of reach.
However, Arizona wasn’t done and gave it a run. Nick Quintana led off the eighth with a walk and moved to third when Tate Soderstrom hit a hard ground ball under first baseman Andrew Vaughn’s glove that went as an error. Cameron Cannon then walked to load the bases with no outs.
After a fly out, freshman shortstop Jacob Blas singled to shortstop to plate Quintana. Cal Stevenson then brought Soderstrom home on an RBI groundout. Alfonso Rivas made it 12-7 with a two-run single to score Blas and Canyon and tighten things up at Evans Diamond.
Senior Jason Seever tossed a scoreless ninth to keep it a four-run game and give the Wildcats one more chance in the ninth.
Soderstrom started the rally with a one-out single and moved to third on Cannon’s third double of the game. Williams reached on an error by Vaughn to score Soderstrom and Cannon to make it 12-9. Blas followed with a double to left-center to score Williams and cut it 12-10.
After a fly out, Rivas collected his third hit of the game to score Blas and make it a 12-11 game. But Martinez struck out Haug swinging to end the game and preserve the 12-11 win.
Rivas finished 3 for 6 with three RBI in the loss. Blas was 3 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Cannon was 3 for 4 with his three doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. Salazar was 1 for 2 with a run scored to run his hitting streak to 11 games.
Juan Aguilera took the loss for Arizona, his first of the season. He fell to 6-1 on the year, going four innings and giving up six runs.
The Cats return to action Monday night at Sacramento State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
