EVANSTON, Ill - The California offense picked up right where it left off on Saturday with 15-3 and 13-2 wins over Northwestern in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at R&B Miller Park. Through the first three games of this four-game series, the Golden Bears (28-18, 11-13 Pac-12) have outscored the Wildcats, 44-5.
Today's 12-run and 11-run Cal wins gave the Bears three straight double-digit wins for the first time since a series against Southern Utah in 2010.
The 44 Cal runs broke the record for most runs in a four-game series with head coach David Esquer at the helm. The previous record was 39 against Loyola Marymount in 2008. The Bears are seven runs shy of the record for runs in any series under Esquer, which is 51, set in 2000 against Arizona. The 44 runs currently ranks third, as Cal notched 46 in a series once, as well.
After homering twice on Saturday, sophomore catcher Brett Cumberland went yard again in the second game of the doubleheader on Sunday. His three-run home run in the fourth inning extended Cal's lead to 5-0. Cumberland now has 15 home runs this season.
After Northwestern got two runs back in the sixth inning, the Bears strung together a seven-run eighth inning to put the game out of contention. Sophomore Denis Karas slugged a three-run homer as part of that seven-run rally, his second of the day. Prior to the home run, senior Nick Halamandaris plated two with a base hit after a walk with the bases loaded and a Wildcat error brought home the first two runs of the inning.
“It's great to see us getting the bats rolling again as we head into the final stretch of the season,” Karas said. “We're looking forward to playing another good game tomorrow and carrying this momentum into next weekend.”
True freshman Joey Matulovich got the start in game two and went six complete, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out three. He picked up his first win of the season, evening his record to 1-1.
In both games, five Bears picked up multi-hit games, with Karas the only Bear to accomplish the feat in both games. In game two, Halamandaris went 3-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored. Cumberland finished 2-for-3 with four RBI, three runs scored, two walks and a home run. Although junior Robbie Tenerowicz didn't garner a hit in game two, he scored three times in three plate appearances with two walks.
In game one, Karas went 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs scored and a home run.
In the first game of the day, the Bears took a 2-0 lead into the fifth inning when they broke the game open. Following an RBI single by senior third baseman Mitchell Kranson, sophomore Preston Grand Pre knocked in two with a base hit of his own.
An inning later in the sixth, Tenerowicz collected two RBI on a triple and he scored on an RBI ground out by Kranson. Tenerowicz ended game one with three RBI as he went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and two runs scored.
Through five and a half, Cal held an 8-0 lead and never lost control of the game.
Kranson, Grand Pre and senior Devin Pearson were the other Bears to collect multiple hits in game one. Pearson also scored three times.
True freshman pitcher Tanner Dodson picked up the win in game one, improving to 3-4 on the year. Dodson went five and a third, allowing two earned runs on five hits, while striking out two.
The Bears conclude this four-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. PT. Fans are encouraged to follow along on social media throughout the season. Get live updates during games on Twitter @Cal_Baseball, or look for updates and photos on Facebook at Facebook.com/CalBaseball and @CalBaseball on Instagram. Fans can also log on to CalBears.com for full game recaps and the latest news.