BERKELEY, Calif. - The No. 12 Golden Bears marched in to Austin and did something that had never been done before; they swept the Texas Longhorns in a four-game series to improve to 9-3 on the young 2016 season. The Bears outscored the Longhorns 24-11 over the four games, and mounted a furious rally to overcome a 7-0 8th inning deficit to win 10-7 in 11 in the fourth and final game last Sunday. Texas Tech travels to the West Coast at 8-5, following a series loss at home against another west coast foe, Cal State Fullerton, this past weekend.
Live updates for each of the four games this weekend will be available this coming weekend on Twitter @Cal_Baseball. Fans are also encouraged to head to CalBears.com for game recaps and additional content.
Probable Pitchers
Friday: RHP Daulton Jefferies (3-0, 0.95 ERA) vs. LHP Erikson Lanning (1-1, 4.50 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Ryan Mason (2-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. RHP Davis Martin (1-0, 3.38 ERA)
RHP Jeff Bain (1-1, 1.54 ERA) vs.LHP Steven Gingery (1-1, 6.75 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Matt Ladrech (1-0, 4.97 ERA) vs. RHP Ty Harpenau (0-0, 3.29 ERA)
Next Up
The No. 12 Bears return head to Southern California to open Pac-12 play for a three-game series in Los Angeles against the USC Trojans. Cal and USC open conference play on Thursday, March 17-19. Two of those games will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Networks.
Poll Position
The Bears are currently 12th in the USA Today Coaches Poll, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, as well as the D1Baseball poll. They are also ninth in the Baseball America poll, 11th in the Perfect Game poll, and 18th in the Collegiate Baseball poll.
Texas-Sized Sweep
California swept the Texas Longhorns this past weekend in a four-game series. It is the first time in Texas baseball history that the Longhorns have ever been swept in a four-game series. The Golden Bears outscored Texas 24-11 over the four games and rallied from a late seven-run deficit to win 10-7 on Sunday in 11 innings.
Following Sunday's win by Cal over Texas, the Bears now own a 12-8 record over the Longhorns. Furthermore, Cal has won six out of the last eight meetings against the Longhorns.
Prior to this week's sweep, Texas had gone 78 four-game series without being swept in their storied history. This was the Bears and Longhorns' second four-game series in three years. The two schools split the 2014 series at two games apiece.
Don't Call it a Comeback
The Golden Bears finished off their sweep of Texas in spectacular fashion on Sunday; coming back from a 7-0 deficit to win 10-7 in 11 innings.
The Bears trailed 7-0 with two away in the top of the eighth inning, when senior outfielder Brian Celsi, who was 4-for-6 with 4 RBI on the day, hit a two-run single to cut the deficit to 7-2. Cal then stranded a pair, but came back in the top of the ninth to score five runs to force extras, courtesy of a two-out RBI single from senior Brenden Farney, a two-run single by senior Nick Halamandaris, an RBI infield single by Celsi and the tying run scored via an error on Texas first baseman Kacy Clemens. Cal then added three more runs in the top of the 11th, when Celsi again drove in a run on a single, as did freshman Ripken Reyes. The 10th and final run came again by virtue of a throwing error by shortstop Bret Boswell on a grounder to short.
With the comeback win, Cal accomplished something that had never been done before in Texas baseball history, a four-game sweep.
#GoldSquad
The Bears made an incredible seven-run comeback on Sunday in their 10-7 extra innings win, and it was thanks largely in part to the depth of the Golden Bears.
When Cal plays intersquad scrimmages, it is played between the Blue and Gold teams. The Gold squad, comprised of many of the younger players, was a huge portion of the comeback win.
While senior outfielder Brian Celsi knocked in four of the runs, the ninth-inning rally was started by fellow senior outfielder Sean Peters, who led off the ninth with an infield single. Freshman Ripken Reyes also was key, when his grounder deep in the hole at short led to an error by Texas first baseman Kacy Clemens that allowed the tying run to score.
In the top of the 11th inning, freshman catcher Tyrus Greene worked a one-out walk, bringing up sophomore Matt Ruff, who played first base for the first time in a competitive game since he was a senior in high school. Ruff shot a sharp single through the left side. Celsi drove in his fourth run of the day with an RBI single, also through the left side, to provide the Bears with their first lead of the game. Reyes then followed with a bloop RBI single to right field, plating Ruff. With two outs, Knapp then hit the ball to short, and Boswell made another errant throw, allowing Celsi to score, pushing the Cal lead to 10-7.
Masterful Mason Joins Top 10
California senior righty Ryan Mason made his 50th career appearance and 39th start last Saturday in a 6-0 win over Texas. With the win, Mason is now 20-7 during his career at Cal, which moves him into a tie for ninth in school history for most career wins.
Esquer's 900th
Cal head coach David Esquer will be coaching in his 900th career game the next time the Bears take the field; on Friday, March 11 against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Esquer has a career record of 477-420-2 during his 17-year tenure in Berkeley.
Double Play
Following California's four-game sweep of Texas, the Golden Bears have turned 16 double plays this year, which is tied for the third most in the country. They are averaging just fewer than 1.5 double plays turned per game and are on track to turn 83 by the season's end. Last season Cal finished the year with 65 double plays turned, which was good enough for the third most in the nation. Notre Dame had the most double plays turned last year with 75.
The Bears' return home this weekend to host Texas Tech for a four-game series. The Red Raiders are also one of the nation's leaders in turned double plays, with 14.
#EMARTime
California closer Erik Martinez has been lights out this season and was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday, the first such honor for the Bears in 2016. The sophomore has pitched in 9.1 innings and posted a 0.96 ERA, while striking out 15 of 33 batters faced. He has allowed only one run all year and opposing batters are hitting just .182 against him, which is lowest for any Cal pitcher who has made over two appearances.
Over the past weekend, Martinez collected two saves in Cal's first two games at Texas. He then picked up the win in game four of the series as he came in to pitch the entire 10th and 11th inning. In three of Martinez's four saves this season he has pitched at least 1.1 innings.
Jesse Ingram (2004) and Trevor Hildenberger (2014) own the Bears' record for most saves in a single season with 10.
Four-Game Series
Fresh off of their four-game sweep of Texas, the California Golden Bears welcome Texas Tech to Berkeley for another four-game series. Beginning Friday, it will be just the eighth four-game series under current California head coach David Esquer. However, it will be their eighth since 2010. Between 2000, when Esquer was first hired, and 2009, the Bears played just one four-game series.
While under Esquer, Cal has won 16 games played during a four-game series. Its total record in games played during a four-game series is now 16-12 . The sweep of Texas was Cal's second sweep of a four-game series under Esquer, the first sweep coming against Fresno State in 2013.
Let's Play Two
Saturday the California Golden Bears and Texas Tech Red Raiders are scheduled to play a doubleheader. It will be the first double header of the season for California and its 25th since the 2000 season.
The Bears are 30-17-1 in games played on the day of a doubleheader (excluding NCAA Tournament games against different opponents). Most recently, Cal took both from Campbell on May 9, 2015. It was the 11th time the Bears have swept a double header since 2000.
Al-Mighty Dault
California Friday night pitcher Daulton Jefferies (3-0) continues to prove that all of the preseason accolades were well-deserved with another strong outing this past Friday in Austin, Texas.
The junior has a 0.95 ERA in 19.0 innings pitched. His two earned runs again Texas this past Friday were the first earned runs he's given up all year. Jefferies, who earned his third win on Friday, dominated the first through fifth innings. The Longhorns only managed to get two hits while striking out four times in the first five innings of Cal's 4-3 win. The right-handed ace didn't walk a batter through the first five innings either.
Jefferies' 24 strikeouts on the year are the fifth most in the Pac-12 Conference and tied for the 30th most in the nation.
Cumby
California sophomore catcher Brett Cumberland continues to light it up at the dish. Cumberland has played in 11 of the Golden Bears' 12 games this season. He has reached base successfully in all 11. In the four-game series at Texas, the sophomore Cumberland went 7-for-13 (.538) with three walks and drove in four runs. He improved his season batting average to a team-leading .405. He is also the team-leader in walks and is tied for the team-lead in RBI.
In the Pac-12, his .405 batting averaged is the sixth best while his .730 slugging percentage is third best.
Finding a Way
California designated hitter Devin Pearson has successfully reached base in all 12 of the Golden Bears' games this year. The senior is hitting .302 so far this season with an on-base percentage of .444 — the second highest on-base percentage for Bears who have played in over half the team's games.
Helping Pearson reach this streak is his average of 1.08 hits per game. He has at least one hit in eight games this season. Furthermore, he has been hit by seven pitches this year, which is tied for second most in the country and most in the Pac-12.
Lineup Change
The Bears opened the 2016 season at 1-2, but have been 8-1 since. A change in the lineup following the Bears' third game of the season and could be a contributing factor to Cal's recent success. Designated hitter Devin Pearson began the season as the number two hitter in the batting order. But following the 1-2 start he was switched with senior third baseman Mitchell Kranson, who had been hitting in the third spot.
Since making the change Pearson is 10-for-31 (.322) at the plate. Whereas before the switch in the lineup Pearson was hitting .250 (3-for-12). In Texas this past weekend Pearson was 5-for-14 (.357).
As for Kranson, the senior is 13-for-37 (.351) with eight RBI since moving to the second spot in the lineup. Before the change, Kranson had a batting average of .167 (2-for-12) and only drove in one RBI. This past weekend in Texas Kranson went 7-for-19 (.368).
#Dingers
California led the Pac-12 in long balls in 2015 with a whopping 45 and they are on a similar path thus far in 2016, having hit seven in their last nine games, which ranks them tied for first in the conference in round-trippers. Cal sophomore catcher Brett Cumberland has paced the Bears with three homers on the season. Two of those were mammoth shots that left Evans Diamond by clearing the adjacent Edwards Stadium (track facility) stands in deep right-center field. Four other Bears hit their first taters of 2016 over the course of the last five-game homestand, as Mitchell “El Gaucho” Kranson, Devin Pearson, junior Robbie Tenerowicz and sophomore Denis Karas have all gone yard.
Punch Out
The Bears currently rank tied for fourth in the Pac-12 in strikeouts, with 99. Starters Daulton Jefferies (24) and Ryan Mason (18) have been leading the way through their three appearances each, but sophomore reliever Erik Martinez is not far behind them with 15 in just 9.1 innings of work, which is a rate of 14.47 strikeouts per nine innings. Freshman Joey Matulovich has also used the punchout as his weapon of choice, retiring eight opponents with via the strikeout.
Pitching In
Cal's starting pitching played a huge part in the sweep at Texas this past weekend; specifically in the case of sophomore RHP Jeff Bain, junior RHP Daulton Jefferies and senior RHP Ryan Mason.
Bain pitched 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing no runs on three hits in a 4-1 win with five punhouts.
Jefferies followed that up with another spectacular outing of his own. He spun a season-best 7.0 innings, surrendering two runs (both earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts in Cal's 4-3 victory.
Mason then pitched a seven-inning shutout in the Bears' 6-0 win, which clinched the series. The Auburn, California, native allowed just two hits with six strikeouts.
Transitioning to Third
Senior Mitchell “El Gaucho” Kranson has been a utility man for the Golden Bears over the past four years. As younger Bears establish themselves at positions Kranson has been familiarizing himself once again with the hot corner. Kranson grew up playing third base and was recruited to play the position. In 2012, Perfect Game ranked the then high school senior as the No. 6 California third base recruit.
El Gaucho Keeps Hitting
Senior third baseman Mitchell Kranson is batting .306 with a home run, five doubles, a team-high nine RBI and eight runs scored. He belted his first long ball of 2016 in a 10-0 win over Purdue on Feb. 26.
First Inning Success
The Golden Bears are off to a great start in 2016, and much of that can be attributed to the first inning success of the Bears. Cal has outscored opponents 15-2 in first innings this year.
Cal is now 7-1 in games where they score first.
They Do it Early, They Do it Late
California has made a habit of scoring early runs to get out in front, but they also have been very successful offensively late in ballgames in 2016. In the eighth inning or later, Cal has outscored its opponents 21-5, including a 10-2 margin in the eighth inning and an 8-2 advantage in ninth innings.
Eight of Nine
California has won eight of its last nine since opening the season losing two of three. During that stretch, Cal has swept Purdue at home and they also completed a historic four-game sweep at Texas in Austin.
Rotation Returns
Cal returns its entire weekend rotation from a year ago, in Friday night junior starter Daulton Jefferies (6-5, 2.92 ERA in 2015), Saturday senior starter Ryan Mason (6-3, 2.98 ERA in 2015) and sophomore left-handed Sunday starter Matt Ladrech (7-4, 2.67 ERA in 2015). Additionally, midweek starter Jeff Bain (6-2, 2.52 ERA) is also back. Bain and Ladrech were each named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans last year.
Welcome Back Farney
Redshirt senior infielder Brenden Farney returns to the Golden Bears after missing all of 2015. Farney led the Bears in hitting in 2014, his junior season, batting .308 with seven doubles and 18 RBI.
Famous Fathers
Several members of the Golden Bears have some fathers whose names may ring a bell with sports fans. Junior centerfielder Aaron Knapp's father, Mike, played baseball here in Berkeley, as did Aaron's brother, Andrew (who has received a Spring Training Invite from the Philadelphia Phillies after a huge season in AA with Reading last year). Additionally, senior outfielder Devin Pearson's father, Dennis, played professional football for the Atlanta Falcons. Keeping with the football theme, freshman outfielder Lorenzo Hampton, Jr.'s father, Lorenzo, Sr., played for the Miami Dolphins after starring at the University of Florida in the 1980's. Additionally, freshman right-hander/outfielder Tanner Dodson's dad, Bo, was a third round draft choice of the Milwaukee Brewers and played professional baseball.
Esquer Among Nation's BestEsquer, 49, is in his 17th season with
a career record of 477-420-2 (.531). In 2011 he led the Bears to the program's first appearance at the College World Series since 1992, and was named the National Coach of the Year.
Log On
Fans are encouraged to follow along with Baseball on social media throughout the season. Get live updates during games on Twitter @Cal_Baseball, or look for updates and photos on Facebook at Facebook.com/CalBaseball and @CalBaseball on Instagram. Fans can also log on to CalBears.com for full game recaps and the latest news.
