CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Despite outhitting the host Hurricanes, the California baseball team could not find a way to get runs across as it dropped its Sunday rubber match with Miami 4-1 at Mark Light Field.
For the first time this series, the Golden Bears (22-20, 7-14 ACC) fell behind with the Hurricanes (32-12, 12-9 ACC) scoring on a weak-contact infield single to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
That was the sole run allowed by freshman
Otto Espinoza who went four full innings and was charged with the loss in his fifth career start. The righty allowed three hits and four walks but got out of trouble when he put 'Canes on the basepaths inducing two double plays. Cal's starting rotation ended an impressive weekend with a 2.70 combined ERA with 15 strikeouts in 20.0 innings pitched.
As soon as Espinoza exited Miami got right on the Cal bullpen scoring a pair of key runs in the fifth inning to go up 3-0.
Cal's best offensive opportunity came in the top of the sixth when the Bears loaded the bases with no outs on three straight singles, but their momentum was promptly killed on a double-play ball that scored their only run of the day.
The Hurricanes immediately answered with a run in the bottom half to go up 4-1, but the damage was limited by Cal reliever
Cole Clark who entered with the bases-loaded and got out of the jam with one pitch. The senior went on to throw the final two innings and ended the night with a nearly perfect performance allowing zero hits, zero runs, and just one walk while striking out a batter in his 2.1 innings of work.
Shortstop
Jett Kenady added to his impressive weekend going 3-for-4 with a run scored and totaled six hits in the series. First baseman
Daniel Murillo and designated hitter
Lawson Olmstead joined him with multi-hit efforts as each went 2-for-4 to give Cal a series-high 10 hits on the day.
The Bears now return to California for a five-game week beginning on the road at Saint Mary's on Tuesday before hosting UC Davis on Wednesday and Virginia Tech in a weekend series that begins Friday.
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