March 27, 2011

Final Stats

BERKELEY -

The No. 16 California Golden Bears scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out single from catcher Chadd Krist to force extra innings against the Washington State Cougars. An 11th inning single gave the Bears a 4-3 victory and the series sweep over the Cougars.

The Bears entered the ninth inning down 3-1. The Cougars had two outs with the bases empty and seemed to be on their way to earning their first Pac-10 victory of the season when the Bears got back-to-back singles to left center from junior short stop Marcus Semien and sophomore second baseman Tony Renda. The runners advanced to second and third on a double steal when Cougar pitcher Paris Shewey threw a pitch low and in the dirt to junior catcher Chadd Krist. The Bears were down to their final strike when Krist smacked a ball straight back up the middle to plate both runners and send the game into the tenth inning.

The Bears got a runner on with one out in the 11th when a pop up to the Washington State third baseman popped off his glove, allowing sophomore left fielder Vince Bruno to reach first base. Semien, who had been part of the ninth inning heroics, smashed a ball down the right field line. Bruno raced around the bases, crossing the plate well before the relayed throw from the right field corner made it to the catcher, giving Cal the season-sweep over the Cougars.

Junior right-hander Matt Flemer, who got the save on Saturday, worked two scoreless innings of relief for the Bears to earn his first win of the season. Flemer struck out four of the seven batters he faced, and allowed just one hit, a bad-hop single in the tenth. Junior starting pitcher Dixon Anderson got a no-decision, working 6.1, allowing five hits, three runs (all earned), striking out three and walking none.

Renda and Semien had two-hit games for the Bears, Semien going 2-for-5 with a run scored and the game-winning RBI. Renda went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The win improves Cal's record to 16-5 and 3-0 to open Pac-10 play. Washington State falls to 9-10 and 0-3 in the Pac-10.

The Bears will play a midweek game at San Francisco, taking on the Dons on Tuesday afternoon, March 29, at 2 p.m. at USF. The Bears return to Pac-10 play and Evan Diamond on Friday, April 1 when they open a three-game series against the USC Trojans.