:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49007155/Cc0vQjsUMAAVQjI.0.0.jpg)
Quick Recap (by Ruey Yen):
Things didn't look good for the most of this game. Despite having plenty of hits and base runners, the Bears faced a 7-0 deficit after 6 innings. Worst, the Bears were trailing 7-2 with two outs in the top of the 9th.
Of course, THE BEAR WILL NOT QUIT! THE BEAR WILL NOT DIE!
Clutch hits follow by clutch hits turned into a key error (no doubt under the pressure to not blow the game), and the Bears used basically the entire roster (Daulton Jefferies with aggressive running scored the tying run on the drop throw to 1st) to send this game to the extra inning.
In the top of the 11th, the Bears came through with 3 runs, after the subs (Matt Ruff, Tyrus Greene, etc.) started this rally. Bears held on to win this game 10-7 in 11 innings to complete a 4-game sweep.
Bears made some history as the first team to sweep Texas (in 73 tries) in a 4-game series.
Cal closer Erik Martinez pitched the 10th and the 11th to earn the win.
B11 | Foul out and that does it!!!!! #Cal sweeps #Texas in a 4-game set for the first time ever (79 times)! #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/h0LnoVh1mc
— #LetsGo (@Cal_Baseball) March 6, 2016
ROLL ON YOU BEARS!
****************
Time: 10 a.m. Pacific
TV: Longhorn Network
Online: If you have Longhorn Network, watchESPN.
Stats: Live stats
Radio: Audio stream
Behind more strong pitching - 7 scoreless by senior Ryan Mason, followed by a 2 inning save (1st of his career) for freshman Tanner Dodson and timely hitting, the Golden Bears have taken this 3rd straight game from the host Texas Longhorns.
Bears struck early in Top of 1st. Nick Halamandaris had a clutch 2-run single. Bears then added a 2nd run when catcher Brett Cumberland hit his 3rd homer of the game.
The game stayed close until the top of the 9th, taking advantage of a two out throwing error (which scored a run). Bears followed with a RBI single and a RBI double to double their lead.
Bears have now won 7 of the last 8 games (lone loss was to Michigan this Monday when the Bears had to start a fill-in guy).
Bears jumped out to a 4-0 lead but had to hold on for the win. Daulton Jefferies went 7 strong, allowing just 2 runs, but it took closer Erik Martinez inducing a huge lineout double play in the 8th, with the tying run in scoring position, for the Bears to hold on to this one.
Offensively, the Bears scored their 4 runs with 9 singles before hitting a double in the 9th (Aaron Knapp was then stranded on 2nd). Bears did take advantage of a Longhorn throwing error to score a run.
Senior Ryan Mason will take the hill for the Bears in game 3 of 4 on Saturday.
The Golden Bears are now 7-3 on the season. The Texas Longhorns fall to 5-5.
Recap of Thursday's game.
No. 13 California (6-3) took the series-opener in Austin at Disch-Falk Field on Thursday night over the Texas Longhorns (5-4), 4-1. Sophomore starter Jeff Bain (1-1) went 6.1 shutout innings for the Bears, allowing just three hits and striking out five with a pair of walks. Fellow sophomore, catcher Brett Cumberland, was 2-for-4 with a big two-run single in the top of the fifth to help pace the California offense, which had 11 hits, all singles on the night.
"Jeff [Bain] was outstanding tonight," head coach David Esquer said on Thursday night. "It's not surprising though, even going back to last year's starts when he pitched on Friday for us a number of times. Tonight was very similar to that, even a tick better. We had all the confidence in the world sending him out there on an opening night on the road and he just pitched great. We played good defense behind him, which was big and he pitched to our defense quite a bit and he made some real quality pitches in big spots."