May 5, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
BERKELEY -
Fri., May 6 at Oregon State Goss Stadium, Corvallis, Ore. 5:35 p.m.
Sat., May 7 at Oregon State Goss Stadium, Corvallis, Ore. 1:05 p.m.
Sun., May 8 at Oregon State Goss Stadium, Corvallis, Ore. 1:05 p.m.
RADIO:
KALX-FM 90.7 will broadcast the May 6-8 Cal-Oregon State series; Gametracker on www.calbears.com
BEAR NOTES:
No. 21 (Baseball America) California (27-14, 11-7 Pac-10) has a huge challenge this weekend, traveling to Corvallis to face No. 3-ranked Oregon State (32-9, 12-3) in a three-game Pac-10 series May 6-8 at Goss Stadium. Prior to Tuesday's 4-1 win at Santa Clara, the Golden Bears had a three-game series versus Oregon at Evans Diamond (W 2-1, L 4-3, W 5-4) in which all three games were one-run contests. Freshman Michael Theofanopoulos had the game-winning pinch hit double in the ninth inning last Friday for the 2-1 win, and senior left fielder Austin Booker had the game-winning RBI single to cap a 5-4 come-from-behind win Sunday. Cal has had five walk-off wins this season (Feb. 20 vs. Utah, March 20 vs. Rice, March 27 vs. WSU, April 29 vs. Oregon, May 1 vs. Oregon). The Bears are currently third in the Pac-10 standings and are fourth in the league with a .290 team batting average and a 2.92 team ERA. Junior catcher Chadd Krist leads the conference with 21 doubles and is seventh with 32 RBI and eighth with 74 total bases. Sophomore center fielder Darrel Matthews is second with four triples, sophomore right fielder Vince Bruno is seventh with a .422 on-base percentage and sophomore second baseman Tony Renda is fourth with 58 hits. On the mound, junior right-hander Erik Johnson is fourth in the Pac-10 with a 1.94 ERA, sixth with a .199 opponent batting average and ninth with 64 strikeouts. Senior right-hander Kevin Miller is second in the league with 36 batters struck out looking and is seventh with 69 strikeouts. Miller has 69 strikeouts and only nine walks in 64.1 innings this season. Junior closer Matt Flemer is fifth in the conference with five saves and has 29 strikeouts and only five walks in 25.2 innings.
SERIES RECORD:
Cal has a 35-28 all-time record versus Oregon State, last sweeping the Beavers (11-3, 14-4, 9-3) April 30-May 1, 2010 at Evans Diamond. In the last series in Corvallis, the Bears were swept (8-4, 6-2, 5-4 in 11 innings) April 3-5, 2009 at Goss Stadium.
HEAD COACH David Esquer:
Esquer, 45, is in his 12th season at Cal with a career record of 343-304-2 (.530). He was the 2001 Pac-10 Coach of the Year after the Bears went 34-25 and played in the Baton Rouge Regional (1-2). In 2008, Cal was 33-21-2 and competed in the Long Beach Regional, and last year the Bears were 29-25 and played in the Norman, Okla. Regional (0-2). Fifty seven Bears have signed pro contracts under Esquer, including first round picks Brett Jackson (CF, Chicago Cubs, 31st overall) in 2009, David Cooper (1B, Toronto, 17th overall) in 2008, Brandon Morrow (RHP, Seattle, fifth overall) in 2006 and Conor Jackson (INF., Arizona, 19th overall) in 2003. Esquer came to Cal after serving as top assistant at Pepperdine (1996-99), and No. 2 assistant at Stanford (1991-96). A shortstop at Stanford (1984-87), he started on the 1987 College World Series championship team, earning All-Tournament honors. Esquer played professionally for four seasons with Baltimore, California and Milwaukee.
TENTATIVE CALIFORNIA LINE-UP
No. Pos. Player 2011 stats
14 2B Tony Renda, So .330, 32 RBI, 1 HR
19 RF Danny Oh, Jr. .218, 9 RBI, 1 HR
27 C Chadd Krist, Jr. .318, 32 RBI, 1 HR
33 1B Devon Rodriguez, So. .296, 25 RBI, 3 HR
44 3B Mitch Delfino, So. .290, 19 RBI, 4 HR
22 DH Vince Bruno, So. .321, 10 RBI, 0 HR
15 SS Marcus Semien, Jr. .245, 26 RBI, 4 HR
2 CF Darrel Matthews, So. .277, 15 RBI, 0 HR
1 LF Austin Booker, Sr. .316, 19 RBI, 0 HR
35 RHP Erik Johnson, Jr. (Fri.) 5-1, 1.94 ERA
23 LHP Justin Jones, So. (Sat.) 5-4, 3.32 ERA
TBA (Sun.)
PAC-10 RACE (AS OF May 5)
Conference Overall
W L PCT W L T .PCT
OSU 12 3 .800 32 10 0 .762
ASU 13 5 .722 32 11 0 .744
CAL 11 7 .611 27 14 0 .659
UCLA 11 7 .611 24 16 0 .600
Ariz 9 9 .500 27 16 0 .628
USC 8 10 .444 18 26 0 .409
Stan 6 9 .400 22 16 0 .579
Ore 5 10 .333 23 20 0 .535
WSU 5 13 .278 19 20 0 .487
Wash 4 11 .267 13 27 0 .325
NOTING OREGON STATE:
The No. 3-ranked (Baseball America) Oregon State Beavers, coached by Pat Casey (17th year at OSU, 569-347-4, .621), are 32-10 and 12-3 in the Pac-10, last losing 7-2 versus Oregon Tuesday after winning two-of-three (W 2-0, W 7-5, L 5-2), April 30-May 1 at UCLA. Top hitters for the Beavers are freshman third baseman Kavin Keyes (.307, 0 HR, 16 RBI), sophomore designated hitter Danny Hayes (.282, 2 HR, 29 RBI) and senior catcher Parker Berberet (.252, 4 HR, 31 RBI). Oregon State's tentative rotation versus Cal is junior right-hander Sam Gaviglio (8-1, 2.00 ERA), junior left-hander Josh Osich (6-1, 2.77 ERA, threw no-hitter Apr. 30 at UCLA) and TBA. In 2010, the Beavers finished 32-24 overall, 12-17 in the Pac-10 (6th tied) and 1-2 in the NCAA Gainesville (Fla.) Regional.
DON'T WALK:
Cal's pitchers have given up just 105 walks this season, second fewest in the Pac-10 behind Arizona State (103). The Bears are averaging 2.75 walks per nine innings. Kevin Miller leads the starters with 1.40 walks per nine innings, followed by Erik Johnson (3.92), Dixon Anderson (2.76) and Justin Jones (2.91). Junior closer Matt Flemer has 1.98 walks per nine innings with only five walks in 25.2 innings. Flemer also has strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.80.
CAUGHT LOOKING:
Cal's pitchers have gotten 126 punch outs this season on a called third strike, first in the Pac-10. Senior right hander Kevin Miller has struck out 36 batters this season on a called third strike, second-best in the conference. On the other side of the equation, sophomore second baseman Tony Renda has only struck out looking three times this season. Sophomore first baseman Devon Rodriguez has only been caught looking four times.
GOLDEN GLOVES:
The Bears have committed only eight errors in their first 18 Pac-10 games, giving them a .989 fielding percentage in conference-play, best in the league. Overall this season, the Bears have committed 38 errors for a .977 fielding percentage, which ties UCLA for the Pac-10 lead.
300:
Four of Cal's everyday players are batting above .300, with sophomore second baseman Tony Renda (.330) leading the team with a .330 average. Others batting over .300 include sophomore right fielder Vince Bruno (.321), junior catcher Chadd Krist (.318) and senior left fielder Austin Booker (.316). The Bears have pushed the team batting average over .300 several times this season and are currently at .290, fourth-best in the conference.
MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES:
Cal batters are hitting .341 with runners in scoring position (158-for-463) this season and .340 (16-for-47) with the bases loaded. Marcus Semien and Austin Booker each have three hits with the bases loaded this season. Booker is batting a team-best .485 (16-for-33) with runners in scoring position, Chadd Krist has driven in 13 runs this season when batting with two outs and is hitting .429 (24-for-56) with runners in scoring position.
RANKINGS:
Cal is ranked No. 21 in this week's Baseball America College Top-25. The Bears spent two weeks ranked at a season-high No. 13 (March March 28 and March 4). The Pac-10 has three teams in the Baseball America Top-25 right now, with Oregon State (3) and Arizona State (7) also ranked. The Bears are ranked No. 24 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 28 in the NCBWA Top-25 and No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches' poll.
HITTING STREAKS:
The longest hitting streak for the Bears belongs to sophomore outfielder Vince Bruno, a transfer from Los Medanos College, who started his Cal career with a 14-game hitting streak from Feb. 25-March 26 (21-for-50, .420, 7-2B, five RBI). Senior outfielder Austin Booker had a12-game hitting streak (18-for-47, .383, 3-2B, 10 RBI) from March 27-April 17.
QUICK NOTES ON CAL BASEBALL:
Highlights for Cal so far in 2011 include a ninth inning comeback to sweep Utah in a doubleheader, a dominating performance at the Caravelle Tournament in South Carolina, an undefeated (3-0) record at the Cal Baseball Classic at AT&T Park and Pac-10 sweeps of Washington State and Washington. The Bears return three players - junior catcher Chadd Krist, sophomore left-hander Justin Jones and sophomore second baseman Tony Renda - who were first-team All-Pac-10 on a squad that finished 29-25 overall (13-14 in the Pac-10) and competed at the 2010 NCAA regional in Norman, Okla. In addition, Cal juniors Marcus Semien (shortstop), Erik Johnson (right-hander) and Danny Oh (outfielder) were honorable mention all-league. Jones and Renda were also named Freshman All-Americans, the first time in school history two players in the same season earned freshman All-America honors. Junior catcher Krist hit .344 with 15 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 2010. Left-hander Jones was third in the Pac-10 with 10 wins (10-6) and was part of two shutouts and threw two complete games. Renda is the Bears' top returning hitter after finishing third in the Pac-10 with a .373 average and his 21 doubles tied for third on the school's all-time single season list. He was a member of the Norman regional all-tournament team as well. On the mound, the Bears return all three of their weekend starters (Johnson 6-3, 4.09 ERA, Jones, junior right-hander Dixon Anderson 5-4, 5.17 ERA), plus senior right-hander Kevin Miller (3-3, 4.72 ERA, 2008 Freshman All-American) and junior closer Matt Flemer (2-3, 4.83 ERA, four saves in 2010).
47 INNINGS WITHOUT AN EARNED RUN:
From March 19-March 27, the Bears went 47 innings without allowing an earned run, a streak that was snapped in the third inning of the third game of the Washington State series. In a seven game span that began with the two games against Ohio State, a single game against Nevada, and the WSU Pac-10 opening series, and a non-conference game at San Francisco. During that span, Cal only allowed four runs (three of them earned).
SHUTOUTS:
The pitching staff has eight shutouts this season. Last season, Cal opened the season with four consecutive shutouts, including not allowing a run in the three-game opening series against Southern Utah. The Bears ended the 2010 campaign with eight total shutouts.
AWESOME OFFENSE IN ARIZONA:
The Cal hitters, in the series against Arizona, tallied 29 runs on 43 hits. In the April 10 six-hours of baseball, the Bears scored 25 of those runs and laced 36 of those hits. Sophomore second baseman Tony Renda had four hits in the first game of that doubleheader and another four hits in the second game, including a triple. Renda wasn't alone in the four-hit game club with sophomore right fielder also Vince Bruno going 4-for-6 in the second game. Both Renda and Bruno drove in three runs. Eight of the players in the Cal lineup drove in at least one run in the game and those same eight players also scored at least one run. Every player had at least one hit. Cal has scored 67 runs on 101 hits in their three Pac-10 series this season, leading the Conference in both stats. Sophomore centerfielder Darrel Matthews is tied for the Pac-10 lead with three triples, hitting all three triples in the Arizona series, one in each game. Renda also tripled against the Wildcats, his first of the season.
CAL OPENS PAC-10 PLAY WITH WSU SWEEP:
The Bears opened Pac-10 play with a sweep against the Washington State Cougars. The Bears scored seven runs in the series opener, with sophomore second baseman Tony Renda going 3-for-5, driving in two runs on a single in the second inning. The Bears rattled off 12 hits in the game with junior catcher Chadd Krist, sophomore third baseman Mitch Delfino, and sophomore center fielder Darrel Matthews each getting a double and a single in the game. In the Bears' 3-0 game two victory over the Cougars, Renda scored the only run the Bears would need, leading off the fourth inning with a double and coming around to score on a sac fly. Cal added a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a two-RBI single from freshman designated hitter Andrew Knapp. In the series finale, the Bears were down to their final out when back-to-back singles followed by a double steal from junior short stop Marcus Semien and Renda set up Krist to drive in the game-tying runs on a single to right. The Bears won the game in the bottom of the 11th on an RBI double from Semien.
CAL WINS 2011 CAL BASEBALL CLASSIC:
On March 11-13, the Bears won all three of their games at the Cal Baseball Class - defeating Louisiana-Lafayette (7-6), then-No. 18 Rice (7-6 in 15 innings) and Long Beach State (6-1) - to be the only undefeated team at the inaugural college baseball tournament at AT&T Park. The Bears' highlights during the tournament included junior shortstop Marcus Semien (3-for-4, two RBI) leading a 12-hit attack Friday, helping junior right-hander Erik Johnson (3-1, 6.0 innings, three hits, two runs, five walks, five strikeouts) pick up the win against Louisiana-Lafayette. On Saturday, sophomore first baseman Devin Rodriguez (5-for-5, three doubles) and sophomore third baseman Mitch Delfino (4-for-5, double, four RBI) led Cal's 21-hit attack against Rice, as Cal overcame a five-run deficit to force extra innings, then won the game on freshman third baseman Derek Campbell's squeeze bunt in the 15th inning. Senior right-hander Kevin Miller (7.0 innings, one hit, no runs, two walks, five strikeouts) and freshman left-hander Kyle Porter (4.0 innings, one hit, no runs, one walk, five strikeouts) kept the Owls off the scoreboard for the final 10 innings. In the final tournament game Sunday against Long Beach State, junior right-hander Dixon Anderson improved his season record to 2-1 by going 5.2 innings with six hits, no runs, no walks and four strikeouts. Against the 49ers, the Bears got big offensive production from sophomore second baseman Tony Renda (3-for-4, double, two RBI), sophomore left fielder Vince Bruno (2-for-3, RBI double) and junior catcher Chadd Krist (2-for-4, two RBI). Standout hitter Renda was 11-for-20 (.550) with two doubles, a home run and nine RBI in games versus Santa Clara, and at the Cal Baseball Classic. In the win over Santa Clara, he was a perfect 5-for-5 with a home run to left field in the fourth inning, an RBI single in the fifth inning, had three RBI with a two-run double and a hit-by-pitch RBI in the sixth inning and an RBI single in the seventh inning. During the tournament at AT&T Park, Renda was 6-for-15 (.400) and led-off the bottom of the 15th inning with a hit and scored the winning run in the Bears' 7-6 extra-inning victory over Rice.
CAL SCORES 20 VERSUS SANTA CLARA:
Led by impressive offensive performances from Tony Renda, Austin Booker and Chadd Krist, among others, Cal defeated Santa Clara, 20-5, March 8 at Evans Diamond. The Bears pounded out 21 hits against eight Broncos pitchers, with seven extra-base hits. Cal actually trailed in the game, 2-1, entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but exploded for seven runs in the fifth and the 10 runs in the sixth inning to run away with the contest. Sophomore second baseman Renda concluded the game a perfect 5-for-5 with a home run to left field in the fourth inning, an RBI single in the fifth inning, had three RBI with a two-run double and a hit-by-pitch RBI in the sixth inning and an RBI single in the seventh inning. Senior left fielder Booker got the Bears big fifth inning started with an RBI triple and finished the day, 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBI. Junior catcher Krist was 2-for-4 with a two-run double in the fifth inning and a two-run single in the sixth inning. It was the most runs for Cal since defeating Southern Utah, 22-0, Feb. 20, 2010.
BUNTING PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Junior center fielder Chad Bunting was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for Feb. 21-27 after an outstanding performance at the Caravelle Resorts Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.. Bunting had a huge day at the plate Feb. 25 versus Coastal Carolina, at team that was 55-10 in 2010, by going 3-for-5 with two, three-run homers and a career-high seven RBI in a 17-0 Cal win. The Ukiah, Calif., native finished the tournament 7-for-12 (.583) with four runs and a double to go along with his two-homer day on Friday. Bunting helped the Bears finish with a .355 team batting average and 0.33 ERA in the tournament.
CAL PITCHING STAFF NOTED:
The 2011 Cal baseball pitching staff earned InsidePitching.com's National Pitching Staff of the Week Award after three impressive performances at the Caravalle Resorts Tournament. The award is given to the pitching staff that shows the most dominance over the course of each week during the college baseball season. The Bears went 3-1 that week against four opponents who competed in NCAA regionals last season, losing 3-2 at then-No. 8 Stanford Feb. 22, but rebounding to defeat Coastal Carolina (17-0), North Carolina State (4-0) and Kansas State 8-1) Feb. 25-27 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. For the week, Cal pitchers threw 35.0 innings, allowed four earned runs on 17 hits, while walking just 10 and striking out 34. InsidePitching.com also noted Cal pitching coach Dan Hubbs, whose pitching staff is off to a impressive start with a 1.88 earned run average with an opponent batting average of .211, allowing just 25 walks and striking out 87. Against Coastal Carolina, senior right-hander Kevin Miller threw 7.1 innings of no-hit ball before yielding a hit in the eighth inning. Miller finished the day throwing 7.1 shutout innings with one hit, no walks and 10 strikeouts. Versus North Carolina State, Feb. 26, junior right-hander Erik Johnson went 6.0 innings with three hits, no runs, three walks and six strikeouts. On Feb. 27 against Kansas State, sophomore left-hander Justin Jones picked up his first victory of the year, throwing 7.0 innings with three hits, one runs, three walks and three strikeouts.
BEARS' EXCITEMENT IN WEEK ONE:
In the Feb. 20 victories over Utah, freshman Andrew Knapp hit a game-winning pinch-hit RBI single to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead Cal to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Utah in the second game of a doubleheader. Knapp put the final touches on an impressive comeback. Down 5-2, the Bears scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to win. With one out, sophomore first baseman Devon Rodriguez scored Renda with an RBI single. Later with two outs, sophomore left fielder Darrel Matthews hit a bases loaded two-run single to tie the game, 5-5. Knapp followed with the game-winning single. The winning pitcher was sophomore Logan Scott, who replaced Jones (7.0 innings, eight hits, five runs, two earned runs, one walk, five strikeouts) and went an effective 2.0 innings with no hits, no runs, no walks and two strikeouts. In the morning 7-0 shutout of Utah in game one of a doubleheader, Cal junior right-hander Johnson was stellar, throwing 7.0 innings with three hits, no runs, no walks and eight strikeouts. The Bears put the game out of reach with a six-run eighth inning behind a key two-run double by Knapp and a grand slam to left field by sophomore third baseman Mitch Delfino. Senior right-hander Miller earned the save for Cal by throwing the final two innings with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts.
MILLER MAGNIFICANT:
Senior right-hander Kevin Miller is sporting a 5-3 record with a 2.10 ERA and has 69 strikeouts (only nine walks) in 64.1 innings. Miller had a streak of 24.1 innings without allowing a run (March 12- April 5). He last picked up the win in relief April 19 versus UC Davis, throwing the final 4.0 innings with seven hits, one run, no walks and two strikeouts. Miller had a phenomenal game Feb. 25 against Coastal Carolina at the Caravelle Resorts Tournament, throwing 7.1 innings of no-hit ball before yielding a double in the eighth inning. Miller finished the day throwing 7.1 shutout innings with one hit, no walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts. He had another outstanding game in a 2-0 shutout of Nevada, throwing 7.0 innings with six hits, no walks and nine strikeouts. He followed that up with a 4-0 shutout of San Francisco, throwing his second one-hitter of the year (a single in the first inning) with a career-high 15 strikeouts (7 looking, 8 swinging). Miller was a Freshman All-American in 2008 when he was 6-1 with a 2.90 ERA, and started his college career not giving up an earned run in his first 44.0 innings pitched.
JOHNSON'S STUFF:
Junior right-hander Erik Johnson is Cal's No. 1 starter for the second year in a row and will start on the mound Friday at Oregon State. In this year's season-opener against Utah on Feb. 20, Johnson threw 7.0 innings with three hits, no runs, no walks and eight strikeouts in a 7-0 victory over Utah. The hard-throwing right-hander started the 2011 season not giving up a run in the first 13.0 innings. He began the 2010 season not giving up an earned run in his first 19.0 innings and went on to be 6-3 with a 4.09 ERA and a save in 13 starts and 16 appearances. Johnson, who also had 73 strikeouts in 77.0 innings last season, was named honorable mention All-Pac-10 in 2010. In his last outing, he went 8.0 innings with four hits, one run, three walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts April 29 versus Oregon.
JONES' MOUND MASTERY:
Immediately stepping into a starter's role last season as a freshman, left-hander Justin Jones was third in the Pac-10 with 10 wins (10-6, 4.22 ERA), sixth with 30 strikeouts looking and eighth with 98.0 innings pitched. Jones was a part of two shutouts and threw two complete games for the Bears last season, including a 6-4 victory March 12 at No. 9-ranked Rice. Jones' 10 victories as a freshman tied him for sixth on the Cal all-time single-season list. He was selected as a Freshman All-American in both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball after being drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago White Sox out of Oakdale (Calif.) High School in 2009. Jones is a tentative starter on the mound Saturday at Oregon State.
ANDERSON'S ACCOLADES:
Dixon Anderson, a 6-6 right-hander from Piedmont, Calif. was Cal's highest draft pick last season when he was selected in the sixth round of the June, 2010 Major League Amateur Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but elected to return to the Bears. After being one of the top prospects out of the Northwoods League in the summer of 2009, he finished the 2010 campaign 5-4 with a 5.17 ERA and a save. Anderson started 13 games, had 17 appearances, and was involved in two of the Bears' seven shutouts last season, recording 45 strikeouts in 76.2 innings. Picking up Pac-10 wins against Oregon, Oregon State and USC, Anderson also had a career-high eight strikeouts in a 10-0 shutout of Southern Utah. An outstanding student majoring in environmental science, Anderson was selected first-team CoSIDA District 8 All-Academic and was first-team Pac-10 All-Academic in 2010. He is a potential starter on the mound Sunday at Oregon State.
RENDA'S RECOGNITION:
Tony Renda had one the greatest freshman season in school history in 2010, earning Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball), first-team All-Pac-10 and Norman (Okla.) Regional All-Tournament honors. Renda was extremely productive the last two weeks of the season, going 13-for-21 (.619) with five doubles, four RBI and 18 total bases. He finished his first collegiate year as the Bears' leading hitter with a .373 average, third-best in the Pac-10. Renda was ranked in the Top-10 in the conference in doubles (fourth, 21), triples (fifth, 4), runs (fifth, 55), hits (sixth, 81), stolen bases (eighth, 13) and total bases (eighth, 119). His 21 doubles tied him for third on the school's all-time list and he recorded 37 RBI with a .548 slugging percentage and a .427 on-base percentage as well, earning 2010 Norman (Okla.) Regional All-Tournament honors.
KRIST'S CONTRIBUTIONS:
One of the biggest keys to the Bears' success last season was the play of junior catcher Chadd Krist (.344, 15-2B, 3-3B, 10-HR, 43 RBI). After seeing action in 27 games in 2009 and starting the second half of the season (.197, 4-2B, 2-HR, 10 RBI), Krist started off the 2010 campaign going 12-for-19 (.632) in his first five games with three doubles, a triple, three home runs (including a grand slam) and nine RBI. He did not slowed down, producing 22 multiple hit games, including going 4-for-5 with a triple, home run and two RBI April 16 versus Washington. Krist was ranked in the Top-10 in the Pac-10 in three offensive categories - fifth in home runs (10), fifth in slugging percentage (.609) and 10th in triples (3).
CAL'S FATHER-SON CONNECTION:
Cal features senior Austin Booker, junior Marcus Semien and freshman Andrew Knapp whose fathers were Golden Bears. Booker's dad is Rod Booker, a former Major Leaguer who was Cal's starting shortstop on the Bears' 1980 College World Series team that finished third in the nation. Semien, Cal's starting shortstop who batted .328 and was HM All-Pac-10 in 2010, father is former Cal wide receiver Damian Semien (1990-93). Freshman Knapp's father is catcher Mike Knapp (1985-86), who helped lead the Bears to an NCAA regional in Fresno in 1985. Another player, freshman right-hander Ryan Sandler, father, Leland, played men's volleyball and later coached when the program was a varsity sport from 1977-79.
ADDITIONAL BEAR NOTES:
The Bears are now 9-3 in season-openers under coach David Esquer after the Feb. 20 shutout (7-0) of Utah at Evans Diamond...Cal features 10 former players on Major League rosters entering Spring Training, more than any other school in the nation - catcher John Baker (Florida Marlins), utility Geoff Blum (Arizona Diamondbacks), outfielder Brennan Boesch (Detroit Tigers), first baseman Allen Craig (St. Louis Cardinals), right-hander Ryan Drese (Baltimore Orioles), first baseman Conor Jackson (Oakland A's), right-hander Brandon Morrow (Toronto Blue Jays), first baseman/outfielder Xavier Nady (Arizona Diamondbacks), right-hander Tyson Ross (Oakland A's) and right-hander Tyler Walker (Washington Nationals). On April 30, designated hitter David Cooper was called up to the Major Leagues for the Toronto Blue Jays.
CAL FACTS
*Cal won the inaugural College World Series title in 1947, defeating former President George Bush's Yale team, 8-7, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Bears' program began in 1892 and is now in its 119th season.
*The Golden Bears have had two players become league MVPs in professional baseball - Jackie Jensen was the American League MVP in 1958 and Jeff Kent was the National League MVP in 2001.
*Cal is one of only 20 schools that have won NCAA Baseball titles and only one of 12 schools that have won more than one national championship (1947, 1957). The Bears have competed in five College World Series (1947, 1957, 1980, 1988, 1992).
*Geoff Blum, Cal's starting shortstop as a freshman on the Bears' 1992 College World Series team, had a game-winning homer for the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 Major League World Series.
CAL INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES:
Dixon Anderson, JR., RHP: 4-2 with a 4.28 ERA in 10 appearances (10 starts)...has 32 strikeouts in 54.2 innings...lost April 23 vs. Arizona State (5.2 innings, five hits, four earned runs, two walks, strikeout)...got his first Pac-10 decision against Washington (7.0 innings, three hits, two runs, one walk, season high six strikeouts)...no decision vs. USC April 3 ( 4.1 innings, seven hits, four runs one walk, three strikeouts)...no decision March 27 vs. Washington State (6.1 innings, five hits, three runs, three strikeouts)...threw first collegiate complete game March 20 vs. Ohio State (9.0 innings, three hits, one unearned run, two walks, six strikeouts)...won March 13 vs. Long Beach State at AT&T Park (5.2 innings, six hits, no runs, no walks, four strikeouts)...won March 3 at San Diego (6.0 innings, six hits, two runs, three walks, one strikeout)...lost Feb. 22 at Stanford (5.2 innings, seven hits, three runs, three walks, five strikeouts)...selected 2010 first-team District 8 All-Academic...was drafted in the sixth round by the Baltimore Orioles in the June, 2010 draft...potential starter Sunday at Oregon State.
Austin Booker, SR., OF/INF: Batting .316 (43-for-136, .310 vs. Pac-10) with 20 runs, six doubles, two triples (10th in Pac-10) and 19 RBI in 33 games (24 starts in left field, 12 starts as designated hitter)...had a career-high 12-game hitting streak from March 27-April 17 (18-for-47, .383, 3-2B, 10 RBI)...had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth May 1 vs. Oregon...went 5-for-11 in the Washington series...was 2-for-4 with three RBI in the series opener Apr. 8 at Arizona...went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in the series finale April 3 vs. USC...was 3-for-5 with a double, triple and RBI vs. Rice March 12...went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBI vs. Santa Clara March 8...had an eight-game hitting streak from March 3-16 (15-for-32, .469, 2-2B, 2-3B, six RBI)...reached base in 10 straight games (Feb. 25-March 16)...is batting a team-best .485 (16-for-33) with runners in scoring position.
Vince Bruno, SO., OF: Batting .321 (42-for-131, .300 vs. Pac-10) with 10 doubles and 10 RBI...is seventh in the Pac-10 with a .422 on-base percentage... began the season with a 14-game hitting streak from Feb. 25-March 26 (21-for-50, .420, 7-2B, five RBI)...had a streak of five straight games with multiple hits (March 13-March 21)...has 16 starts in right field, 12 starts in left field and five starts as designated hitter...had two stolen bases to set up a run in the final game against Washington, his second multi-stolen base game of the season...was 4-for-6 with three RBI in game two April 10 at Arizona...went 2-for-3 with a double on March 26 vs. Washington State...went 4-for-7 with a double and RBI March 19-20 vs. Ohio State...was 2-for-4 with a double March 21 vs. Nevada...was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI March 16 vs. San Francisco...went 2-for-3 with an RBI double March 13 vs. Long Beach State at AT&T Park...was 2-for-4 with an RBI March 8 vs. Santa Clara...is batting .364 (12-for-33) with runners in scoring position.
Chad Bunting, JR., OF: Batting .278 (15-for-54) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBI...has been out since the Washington State series with a thumb sprain...was named Feb. 21-27 Pac-10 Player of the Week after an outstanding performance at the Caravelle Resorts Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C....was 3-for-5 with two, three-run homers and a career-high seven RBI Feb. 25 vs. Coastal Carolina...finished the Caravelle Tournament 7-for-12 (.583) with four runs, a double and two home runs.
Derek Campbell, FR., INF: Batting .211 (8-for-38, .143 vs. Pac-10) with three doubles and four RBI...has four starts at third base and two starts as designated hitter...has four multiple hit games...went 2-for-2 with an RBI double April 25 at Stanford...was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI April 21 vs. Arizona State...went 2-for-2 with an RBI March 20 vs. Ohio State...was 2-for-3 with a double and the game-winning RBI on a drag bunt March 12 vs. Rice at AT&T Park ...is batting .385 (5-for-13) with runners in scoring position.
Mitch Delfino, SO., 3B: Batting .290 (36-for-124, .266 vs. Pac-10) with 11 doubles (9th in Pac-10), a triple, four home runs (10th in Pac-10), including a grand slam and 19 RBI...was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI Tuesday at Santa Clara...went 2-for-3 with a home run April 29 vs. Oregon...hit a home run April 15 at Washington April 15...hit a double and a solo home run April 10 at Arizona...went 4-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored in the first two games of the USC series April 1-2...hit three doubles in four games the week of March 21 (one vs. Nevada, two vs. WSU)...had eight assists at third base in the March 26 game against WSU...was a career-high 4-for-5 with a double and four RBI March 12 vs. Rice at AT&T Park...went 2-for-3 Feb. 22 at Sanford and 2-for-2 with a grand slam Feb. 20 vs. Utah...is batting .324 (11-for-34) with runners in scoring position.
Matt Flemer, JR., RHP/1B: 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA and five saves (5th in Pac-10) in 19 relief appearances...has 29 strikeouts with only five walks in 25.2 innings...went 10 appearances (14.0 innings) before giving up a walk this season...earned save Tuesday at Santa Clara, pitching the ninth inning with one hit and one walk...earned win May 1 vs. Oregon, pitching the ninth inning (no hits, no runs)...had three strikeouts in 2.2 innings April 21 vs. Arizona State...did not allow a hit in two appearances (1.2 innings) against Washington Apr. 16-17...earned save April 15 at Washington, pitching with the tying run on third and the potential winning run on second...earned his first win of the season March 27 against WSU, pitching two innings of relief, striking out four and giving up just one hit...picked up a save against WSU March 26, striking out two of the three batters he faced...earned save vs. Nevada March 21 (1.0 inning, one hit)...lost in relief March 16 vs. San Francisco (2.0 innings, four hits, one run, no walks, two strikeouts)...picked up save March 11 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at AT&T Park (2.0 innings, two hits, one run, no walks, four strikeouts)...struck out the side Feb. 22 at Stanford.
Erik Johnson, JR., RHP: 5-1 with a 1.94 ERA (4th in Pac-10) in 11 starts...has 64 strikeouts (9th in Pac-10) in 69.2 innings...opponents are batting .199 against (5th in Pac-10)...started season not giving up an earned run in first 13.0 innings...has four shutouts this season...got no decision Apr. 29 vs. Oregon (8.0 innings, four hits, on run, three walks, career-high 11 strikeouts)...earned his fifth win of the season, after back-to-back no decisions, April 15 at Washington, allowing one run in 6.2 innings...struck out a career-high 11 batters in a no-decision April 8 at Arizona...earned fourth win of the season March 25 against Washington State, allowing two hits in 8.0 innings, striking out six...due to rain got no decision March 19 vs. Ohio State (1.0 inning, two walks, one strikeout)...won March 11 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at AT&T Park (6.0 innings, three hits, two runs, five walks, five strikeouts)...lost March 4 at San Diego State (6.0 innings, eight hits, two runs, two walks, eight strikeouts)...won Feb. 26 vs. North Carolina State (6.0 innings, three hits, no runs, three walks, six strikeouts)...won Feb. 20 vs. Utah (7.0 innings, three hits, no runs, no walks, eight strikeouts)...slated to start Friday at Oregon State.
Justin Jones, SO., LHP: 5-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 12 games and 10 starts...has 47 strikeouts in a team-high 81.1 innings (5th in Pac-10)...lost April 30 vs. Oregon (7.0 innings, nine hits, three earned runs, one walk, four strikeouts)...threw a complete game but lost April 22 vs. Arizona State (9.0 innings, nine hits, five runs, two walks)...earned his fifth win of the season against Washington April 16 (8.0 innings, seven hits, one earned run, three walks, four strikeouts)...pitched complete game win vs. USC April 2 (seven hits, one earned run, one walk, career-high 12 strikeouts)...won vs. Washington State March 26 (8.0 innings, seven hits, no runs, no walks, seven strikeouts)...picked up win in relief March 20 vs. Ohio State (due to rain suspension, 8.0 innings, five hits, no runs, three walks, four strikeouts)...got no decision March 12 vs. Rice at AT&T Park (4.0 innings, eight hits, six runs, two walks, two strikeouts)...lost March 5 vs. Oklahoma (8.0 innings, seven hits, four earned runs, two walks, three strikeouts)...won Feb. 27 vs. Kansas State (7.0 innings, three hits, one run, three walks, three strikeouts)...no decision Feb. 20 vs. Utah (7.0 innings, eight hits, two earned runs, one walk, five strikeouts)...potential starter Saturday at Oregon State.
Andrew Knapp, FR., DH/C: Batting .220 (13-for-59, .281 vs. Pac-10) with two doubles, a home run and 12 RBI...went 4-for-8 at Washington, in two starts and a pinch-hit appearance...had his first multi-hit game of his career April 10 at Arizona, going 2-for-5 with an RBI...went 1-for-3 with a double April 1 against USC...drove in two runs in the March 26 7-0 victory over Washington State...was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer Feb. 26 vs. North Carolina State...on Feb. 20 vs. Utah went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI in game one and had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning in game two...is batting .333 (8-for-24) with runners in scoring position.
Chadd Krist, JR., C: Batting .318 (50-for-157, .319 vs. Pac-10) with 21 doubles (1st in Pac-10, 2nd in NCAA, already sixth on Cal's single-season doubles list) and 32 RBI (7th in Pac-10)...is eighth in the Pac-10 with 74 total bases...leads the team with 18 multiple hit games and a team-high 17 RBI in Pac-10 play...was 2-for-6 with a double and RBI Apr. 21 vs. Arizona State...hit four doubles in the Washington series, going 6-for-12 overall, driving in four runs...went 2-for-5 with three RBI and 2 runs scored Apr. 3 vs. USC...had the game-tying two-RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth March 27 vs. Washington State...was 2-for-4 with two RBI March 13 vs. Long Beach State at AT&T Park...went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI March 8 vs. Santa Clara...was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI Feb. 27 vs. Kansas State...is batting .429 (24-for-56) with runners in scoring position.
Louie Lechich, FR., LHP/OF: Batting .381 (8-for-21, .500 vs. Pac-10)...1-1 with a 5.65 ERA as a pitcher in five appearances and one start...went 3-for-4 with two RBI in first game of April 10 doubleheader at Arizona...pitched 3.2 innings in relief against Pacific (no decision), allowing two earned runs on six hits, striking out two and walking one...went 2-for-4 at San Francisco March 29, the only Bear with multiple hits in the game, his first start of the year as an outfielder...was the starting pitcher (with no decision) in the March 16 game against San Francisco, going 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs, striking out four, and walking one.
Darrel Matthews, SO., OF: Batting .277 (31-for-112, .258 vs. Pac-10) with four doubles, four triples (2nd in Pac-10) and 15 RBI...hit his fourth triple of the year to plate two runs against UC Davis on April 19...had a career-high eight-game hitting streak from April 2-16 (12-for-32, .375, 2-2B, 3-3B, eight RBI) ...hit a triple in each of the games during the Arizona series April 8-10...went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI in the April 3 vs. USC...had a five-game hitting streak (Ohio State series through first two games of WSU series), going 9-for-15 (.562) during that span...went 2-for-3 March 21 vs. Nevada...was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs in the second game of doubleheader vs. Ohio State March 20...went 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a key two-run single in the ninth inning, Feb. 20 vs. Utah...has 26 starts in center field and five starts in left field and this season.
Kevin Miller, SR., RHP: 5-3 with a 2.10 ERA (7th in Pac-10) and a save in six starts (in 13 appearances)...is second in the Pac-10 with 36 batters struck out looking...has 69 strikeouts (seventh Pac-10) in 64.1 innings with only nine walks...was outstanding in relief May 1 vs. Oregon (6.2 innings, five hits, no runs, no walks, five strikeouts)...earned his fifth win of the season pitching the final 4.0 innings against UC Davis (April 19), allowing one run on seven hits, striking out two...earned his fourth win of the season working four innings of relief in the series finale at Arizona, allowing three earned runs on five hits, striking out three and walking one...had a streak of 24.1 innings without allowing a run...dominated in his March 29 start at San Francisco (4-0), giving up one hit in the first inning and then striking out 15 batters (seven looking, eight swinging) in 8.0 innings of work...followed that with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief against USC (April 3), allowing one hit and striking out two...won start in 2-0 shutout vs. Nevada (7.0 innings, six hits, no runs, no walks, nine strikeouts)...threw 7.0 innings of relief March 12 vs. Rice at AT&T Park (one hit, no runs, two walks, five strikeouts)...lost March 6 start vs. Connecticut (6.0 innings, five hits, two earned runs, no walks, five strikeouts)...won Feb. 25 at Coastal Carolina, throwing a no-hitter into the eighth inning and finishing with 7.1 innings with one hit, no walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts...picked up a save Feb. 20 vs. Utah (2.0 innings, one hit, no runs, one walk, three strikeouts)...was a 2008 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, going 6-1 and not giving up an earned run in his first 44.0 innings.
Danny Oh, JR., OF: Batting .218 (17-for-78, .333 vs. Pac-10) with one double, one home run and nine RBI...went 3-for-4 April 30 vs. Oregon...was 2-for-4 with three RBI March 8 vs. Santa Clara...hit a three-run homer Feb. 25 at Coastal Carolina.
Kyle Porter, FR., LHP: 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA and two saves (two starts and 18 appearances)...has 34 strikeouts and only nine walks in 33.2 innings...has allowed only five earned runs in his last 11 appearances (13.0 innings, March 21-present)...won in a start May 3 at Santa Clara, throwing a career-high 5.0 innings (five hits, one run, one strikeout)...struck out a season-high six of the 10 batters he faced April 15 in 2.1 innings of work at Washington...got the win in Cal's April 3 victory over USC, pitching 2.0 innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits...pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in Cal's March 27 11-inning 4-3 win against Washington State, striking out three, walking one, and allowing two hits...threw 4.0 innings March 12 vs. Rice at AT&T Park (one hit, no runs, one walk, career-high five strikeouts)...threw 4.0 innings in March 8 start vs. Santa Clara (nine hits, one earned run, no walks, four strikeouts)...had four strikeouts in 2.0 innings March 3 at San Diego...earned first collegiate save Feb. 26 vs. North Carolina State (3.0 innings, no hits, no runs, one walk, two strikeouts).
Tony Renda, SO., 2B: Batting .330 (58-for-176, .338 vs. Pac-10) with nine doubles, a triple, a home run and a team-leading 32 RBI (7th in Pac-10)...leads the team with seven stolen bases (7-for-9)...is fourth in the Pac-10 with 58 hits...started the season with a career-high 11-game hitting streak (20-for-49, .408, 4-2B, HR, 12 RBI)...was 3-for-4 with a double Apr. 30 vs. Oregon...went 3-for-4 with three RBI April 16 at Washington...had eight hits in the doubleheader at Arizona, going 4-for-5 and 4-for-6, including hitting his first triple of the season in game two...was 6-for-15 March 25-27 vs. Washington State with a double and two RBI...was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI vs. Long Beach State March 13 at AT&T Park...went a career-best 5-for-5 with a double, home run and a career-high six RBI March 8 vs. Santa Clara...was 3-for-6 with a double and three RBI Feb. 25 at Coastal Carolina...is batting .364 (20-for-55) with runners in scoring position.
Devon Rodriguez, SO., 1B: Batting .296 (47-for-159, .264 vs. Pac-10) with 11 doubles (9th in Pac-10), a triple, three home runs and 25 RBI...went 2-4 with a double Tuesday at Santa Clara, and 2-for-4 with a double and RBI May 1 vs. Oregon...was 3-for-8 with a home run and two RBI April 21 vs. Arizona State...went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in the April 2 vs. USC...went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI March 20 vs. Ohio State...was a career-best 5-for-5 with three doubles March 12 vs. Rice at AT&T Park...went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI Feb. 27 vs. Kansas State...was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI Feb. 25 at Coastal Carolina...went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI in the Feb. 20 season opener vs. Utah...batting .327 (17-for-52) with runners in scoring position.
Logan Scott, SO., RHP: 1-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 15 appearances...had his longest outing of the season in a start against UC Davis (April 19), going 5.0 innings without allowing a run on seven hits with four strikeouts and zero walks...worked 3.2 innings in game two of the Arizona series (April 10), allowing three runs on six hits, striking out one...took the loss against USC on April 1 (10-6), working 2.1 innings of relief, allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out one...earned win in relief Feb. 20 vs. Utah (2.0 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts)...opened the season without allowing a hit in his first three appearances (5.0 innings).
Marcus Semien, JR., SS: Batting .245 (38-for-155, .205 vs. Pac-10) with eight doubles, four home runs (10th in Pac-10) and 26 RBI...has 11 sacrifice bunts this season (1st in Pac-10)...leads the team with 30 runs (9th in Pac-10) and 23 walks (5th in Pac-10)...hit a solo home run April 17 at Washington, giving Cal an insurance run in a 4-3 win (3-2 game when he hit it)...had five hits (in 11 at-bats) in the doubleheader at Arizona, scoring three runs and with two RBI...went 4-for-5 with a double April 5 vs. Pacific...in the March 20 doubleheader vs. Ohio State was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI...hit a three-run homer to send to game into extra-innings March 16 vs. San Francisco...went 3-for-4 with two RBI March 11 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at AT&T Park...was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI March 8 vs. Santa Clara...hit a grand slam March 3 at San Diego...went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI Feb. 27 vs. Kansas State...is batting .340 (18-for-53) with runners in scoring position.
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