Feb. 28, 2008
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - Despite trailing 3-0 after the top of the first inning, the University of California baseball team came storming back to upend No. 24 Fresno State, 14-4, Thursday afternoon during the first day of the University of San Diego Tournament, held at Cunningham Stadium on the University of San Diego campus. The Golden Bears, behind the strong hitting of David Cooper, Dylan Tonneson, Blake Smith, Josh Satin and Jeff Kobernus, improved to 3-0-1 on the season, while Fresno State dropped to 2-3.
Cal pounded out 16 hits against five Bulldog pitchers and withstood Fresno State scoring three runs in the top of the first inning against the Bears' winning pitcher, sophomore starter Chris Petrini (1-0, 5.2 innings, four hits, four runs, five walks, three strikeouts), who was making his first appearance for Cal after sitting out last season following elbow surgery. The Bears scored two runs in the bottom of the first on RBI singles by senior second baseman Satin and sophomore catcher Tonneson off of Bulldog starter Justin Wilson (0-2, 4.1 innings, nine hits, five earned runs, three walks, three strikeouts) to get within, 3-2.
Cal then took the lead in the bottom of the third inning when sophomore third baseman Kobernus led-off the inning with a single to right field and then scored on junior first baseman Cooper's fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field for a 4-3 advantage.
The Bears did not look back after that point, scoring two runs in the fifth inning on sophomore right fielder Smith's RBI single, and successful double steal by Smith and Tonneson. Cal then exploded for five runs with two outs in the sixth inning, paced by an RBI double by sophomore center fielder Brett Jackson, a bases loaded walk by Smith, a bases loaded hit by pitch by junior left fielder Michael Capbarat and a two-run double down the third base line by junior shortstop Michael Brady.
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The Bears added three more runs in the seventh inning when Cooper led-off with a single to right, Satin hit a ground rule double to center field, Jackson walked and Tonneson forced in a run after being hit by a pitch. Smith then hit a sacrifice fly and freshman pinch hitter Austin Booker later had a bases loaded RBI walk.
Tonneson (career-best 3-for-3, two RBI), Satin (3-for-4, double, RBI) and Kobernus (3-for-6, double) all had three hits apiece for the Bears; while Cooper was 2-for-3 with his two-run homer and four runs scored, and Smith was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Cooper is now 6-for-13 (.462) on the year with four home runs and 13 RBI in four games. Satin is 8-for-17 (.471) on the year with a double, two home runs and five RBI.
Cal will next play No. 5-ranked Missouri, Friday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Home Runs:
Fresno State: None.
Cal: Cooper, two-run homer in the third inning.
