Golden Bears Rally to Edge Blue Devils 3-2

Saturday, February 14

Berkeley, Calif.

9:00 PM

Duke University

California

Golden Bears Rally to Edge Blue Devils 3-2

2/15/2015 2:37:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

BERKELEY, Calif. – An early two-run Duke lead would not hold as the Blue Devils fell to California, 3-2, Saturday evening at Evans Diamond. The Golden Bears negated a 2-0 Duke advantage with two runs in the fifth and the go-ahead run in the eighth.

The Blue Devils struggled to consistently put the ball in play against the Golden Bears' pitching tandem of Ryan Mason and Dylan Nelson, striking out 18 times. Cal (1-1) outhit Duke 10-3, but the Bears also stranded 10 runners over the course of the game.

Cal starter Mason pitched a tremendous game. Duke (1-1) touched the righty for two runs in the first, but he didn't allow a hit the rest of the way and struck out a career-best 12 batters. Mason tossed six complete frames, allowing two runs on three hits in the no decision.

Golden Bears' reliever Nelson ultimately earned the win after pitching the final three innings. Nelson did not permit a hit and struck out six.

“Their guys threw very well,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “We had a hard time seeing Mason's changeup. Then you follow that up with a guy like Nelson who has a good curveball. They made it tough on us.”

The Blue Devils were able to get to Mason early. With one out in the first, Jalen Phillips drew a walk and Evan Dougherty followed with his first career hit. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Cris Perez roped an RBI single to right. Freshman Jack Labosky then laid down a well-placed bunt to plate Dougherty and give Duke the 2-0 advantage.

Duke starter Andrew Istler worked in and out of trouble before the Golden Bears caught up to him in the fifth. Cal registered four base hits in the frame, including two-out RBI singles from both Devin Pearson and Chris Paul to tie the score at 2-2. Lefthander Dillon Haviland came on and got the final out, inducing a popup to short. Istler yielded two runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings while striking out five and walking just one.

The Duke bullpen was able to keep the game knotted at two until the eighth. Redshirt freshman James Ziemba and true freshman Mitch Stallings made their collegiate debuts and both lefties struck out the first batter they faced on three pitches.

“We did a good job of making pitches when we needed to,” Pollard said. “Guys did a good job of competing. We had to grind it out with some matchups, but that's what we're going to have to do in situations like that.”

Stallings would ultimately suffer the loss following a costly error in the eighth. Pinch hitter Grant Diede drew a five-pitch walk with one away and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw. Shortstop Preston Grand Pre proceeded to drop a squeeze bunt down the first base line, which scored the go-ahead run.

Duke and Cal return for the series finale Sunday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. (PST). Sophomore Bailey Clark makes his first career start for the Blue Devils against the Golden Bears' Alex Schick.

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