Time: 12:00 pm PST
Video Stream: Riceowls.com
Audio Stream: KALX radio
Gametracker
It’s time for playoff baseball, beginning with today’s opening game against the Baylor Bears. Cal’s season can’t end today because of the double-elimination format for NCAA regionals, but teams that lose the first game don’t tend to fair well. Falling in game one means that to progress, a team must win four straight games, including a two games on Sunday, the second against a team that didn’t play earlier in the day.
So Cal and Baylor won’t pull any punches today. And it will be a matchup of aces, with Cal’s Erik Johnson (read an interview with him here) facing Baylor’s Logan Verrett. For more on Verrett and Baylor check out CGB’s regional preview. It’s Cal’s pitching and defense vs. Baylor’s patience and power. If Johnson has his good control today, Baylor will be hard-pressed to score runs. But Cal’s bats haven’t been hitting consistently in weeks. It’s likely to be another tense, low-scoring pitching duel, so boot up Rice’s video stream or KALX radio over the internet (or both!) and brace yourself for drama. Announced lineups after the jump. Go (Golden) Bears!
DH Vince Bruno, So. .313
LF Austin Booker, Sr. .318
2B Tony Renda, So. .330
C Chadd Krist, Jr. .297
SS Marcus Semien, Jr. .260
RF Chad Bunting, Jr. .267
1B Devon Rodriguez, So. .278
3B Mitch Delfino, So. .280
CF Louie Lechich, Fr. .314
RHP Erik Johnson, Jr.
Baylor Bears:
LF Cal Towey So.
RF Brooks Pinckard Jr.
1B Max Muncy So.
C Josh Ludy Jr.
DH Joey Hainsfurther Jr.
3B Jake Miller So.
CF Logan Vick So.
2B Steve DalPorto So.
SS Landis Ware Sr.
RHP Logan Verrett Jr.