Heartbreak in the ninth for the Golden Bears

BERKELEY Stanford was down to its final at-bat when Cole Hinkleman launched a three-run home run. Matt Lozovoy giving Stanford a 5-3 victory Saturday night at Stu Gordon Stadium.

Lozovoy (0-1) entered the game in the top of the eighth and was terrific. He struck out two and had a routine groundout to end the frame. He came back in the ninth and quickly got two strikeouts on a strikeout. But an infield single and a two-out walk brought Hinkleman to the plate, who posted a 2-2 pitch with the reverse for his first career home run.

Stanford (21-7, 10-2 Pac-12) is coming off a series sweep after scoring five runs on seven hits. Hinkelman was the hero, driving in four runs for the Cardinal and finishing the night 2-3.

Cal (12-15, 3-12 Pac-12) had another strong night Kade Kretzschmar who went 2-for-2 with a double and a home run, his sixth of the year. He drove in all three of Cal’s runs Saturday night.

In the third pipe, Cardinal jumped into the lead. Eddie Park got Stanford on the board when he drew a leadoff walk to open the game and came around to score on Braden Montgomery’s sacrifice fly. In the top of the second, Stanford added to its lead when Alberto Rios doubled down the right field line and scored on a base hit by Cole Hinkelman.

That would be any crime the cardinal would oppose Paulshawn Pasqualotto who was stranded in the top of the second, retired eight straight before giving up a leadoff walk in the fifth. Pasqualotto went six perfect, scattering four hits, two runs (both earned), two walks and two strikeouts.

At the bottom of the second, Kade Kretzschmar was the first of his two big hits. After the departure walk Max HandronKretzschmar crushed the ball down the left field line for an RBI double.

Stanford starter Joey Dixon put three more outs on the board, but again fell victim to Kretzschmar’s hot bat in the bottom of the sixth. Handron started the demonstration by drawing a walk. With two outs, Kretzschmar made it 2-0, providing another way for a two-run home run.

Ryan Bruno (1-0) earned the win for the Cardinal, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. He allowed four walks but struck out four.

Cal had another chance in the ninth inning when Stanford closer Brandt Pancer issued three walks to load the bases with two outs. Tucker Bougie, who hit a home run for Pancer in game one of the series. This time, however, Pancer beat Bougie by coaxing a low fly ball into left field for the final out. The save was Pancer’s third of the year.

NEXT

Cal returns to action Monday night when Nevada comes to Stu Gordon Stadium for a non-conference showdown. Monday’s game will be streamed on Cal Livestream, with Jim Darby calling the action live. The first performance is at 18:05.

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