Feb. 28, 2012

Tweet

Box Score

BERKELEY -

No. 25-ranked Cal took advantage of its scoring opportunities and received some strong pitching performances on the way to a 5-3 victory over San Francisco Tuesday (Feb. 28) at Evans Diamond. Senior center fielder Chad Bunting, sophomore first baseman Andrew Knapp and junior third baseman Mitch Delfino all had RBI doubles, while senior right-hander Joey Donofrio picked up his first collegiate victory in relief. Sophomore right-hander Trevor Hildenberger picked up his first collegiate save as well, getting the final two outs in the top of the ninth inning.

The Golden Bears improved to 5-2 on the season, and the Dons dropped to 5-3.

Cal scored three runs in the first two innings off of USF starter Jordan Remer (1-1, 1.2 innings, two hits, three runs, two earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts), when Remer gave up a two-run double down the left field line to Bunting in the bottom of the first, and then had a throwing error that allowed senior right fielder Danny Oh to score on an infield hit by junior designated hitter Vince Bruno.

The Dons came back to score a run in the top of the fifth inning on a lead-off home run to left field by Justin Maffei off of the Bears' starter, freshman right-hander Keaton Siomkin (4.0 innings, eight hits, one run) to make the score, 3-1.

Donofrio replaced Siomkin with no outs in the fifth inning and was able to force a double play and get a strikeout. He earned the win by throwing 2.0 innings with three hits, no runs, one walk and two strikeouts.

Cal came back to score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 5-1. Junior second baseman Tony Renda started off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield, was sacrificed to second base by Bruno, advanced to third base on Chadd Krist's ground out to the pitcher, and scored on Knapp's double down the left field line. Then after a Bunting walk, Knapp scored on Delfino's double down the left field line.

USF made the game close in the top of the ninth inning when Tom Barry was hit by a Hildenberger pitch with the bases loaded and Bradley Zimmer hit a sacrifice fly to center field, but Hildenberger was able to force Aritz Garcia to ground out to shortstop to end the game.

Seven different Bears had hits against the Dons, and even though USF out-hit Cal, 14-7, the Dons left 14 runners on base.

The Bears next host Lehigh in three games at Evans Diamond. Cal will take on the Mountain Hawks, from Bethlehem, Pa., in a single game on Saturday, March 3 at 2 p.m., before hosting a doubleheader on Sunday, March 4 beginning at 11 a.m.