Bears Drop Series Opener At Arizona State

PHOENIX – A pair of four-run innings weren't enough for the California baseball team Thursday night as the Golden Bears fell to Arizona State 14-8 in the opener of a three-game series at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Cal (15-8, 5-5 Pac-12) got off to a strong start in the top of the first inning that featured a pair of singles, pair of walks and pair of sacrifice flies. The Bears posted a 4-0 lead before starting pitcher Luke Short ever took the mound.

But the Sun Devils scored two in the second and five in the third to take control, and gradually tacked on more to establish a 14-4 advantage.

Cal caused a stir in the top of the ninth on a one-out double by pinch hitter Jag Burden followed by walks to PJ Moutzouridis and Rodney Green Jr. Caleb Lomavita followed with a blast over the left field wall for a grand slam to cut the deficit to 14-8. That was part of a five-RBI night for Lomavita, who is now tied for the Pac-12 lead with 36. His 11 home runs also rank second in the conference.

Moutzouridis added a double and a single to lift his batting average for the season to .383, good for fourth in the Pac-12.

The Bears resume their series with the Sun Devils on Friday at 6:30 p.m. PT.