Plaia, Keith Lead CBU in Power 5 Series Finale at Cal

Sunday, March 21

Berkeley, Calif.

12 PM

California Baptist University

11-6

Cal

12-7

California Baptist

California

Photo by: Matt Schumacher

Plaia, Keith Lead CBU in Power 5 Series Finale at Cal

3/21/2021 3:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

BERKELEY – Nick Plaia and Damon Keith put together big days at the plate, looking to get California Baptist University baseball the series victory over the Power 5 Golden Bears of Cal.

Cal just escaped the 9-8 game and series victory on Sunday at Evans Diamond, thanks to a solo walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. Plaia finished the game going 4-for-5 with three runs scored, a stolen base and double, while Keith was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and a solo homer, as well.

A 3 for 3 day for Nick Plaia thus far?
You bet. ✅#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/MplxnLP6ZN
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 21, 2021

Despite just missing out on the series win, it was a strong showing from the Lancers this weekend in Berkeley. Cal and CBU came into this series receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's NCAA Division I rankings, and it turned out there is little separating both squads.

The Lancers move to 11-6 this season, as they shift back into Western Athletic Conference play next week. Cal improves to 12-7 with Pac-12 play starting up for the Bears next, as well.

CBU got momentum going in its favor right away, with a two-run first inning. Plaia led off the game with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Chad Minato. Plaia scored on a sacrifice fly and a solo homer from Keith put the Lancers up 2-0.

DAMON KEITH POWER IS ON FULL DISPLAY TODAY! 💪🏽
» Lancers lead 2-0 in the 1st!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/39JbQc7VN6
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 21, 2021

Three more CBU runs came around to score in the third. Plaia was the spark plug once again, with his leadoff single and a stolen base getting things going. A throwing error allowed him to score, but he would've come around no matter what after Ulises Caballero blasted a two-run double that increased the Lancers' lead to 5-1.

CABBY CONTENT IS THE BEST CONTENT 🔥
» Ulises Caballero's double drives in two runs to give us a 5-1 lead in the 3rd!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/8VbfsL32Id
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 21, 2021

The Golden Bears fought back within a run with a three-run fourth, but was held just short of tying the game by CBU in back-to-back innings. Cal started the bottom of the fourth with four-straight hits to cut its deficit to 5-4, but Jacob McCarvel got three-straight outs to keep the Lancers ahead.

Cal looked to tie the game in the fifth after two-straight singles. Matt Amrhein came in out of the bullpen and got a grounder to end the threat, but it took a great play from Harrison Spohn in the 3-4 hole. Amrhein threw 1.2 scoreless innings in which he just allowed a walk.

HARRISON SPOHN!!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!? 🤯

» This defensive masterpiece saves a run and keeps us on top with a 6-5 lead in the 6th.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/hsFjdPxvjJ
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 21, 2021

CBU tacked on two runs in the eighth to go up 8-5. The Lancers loaded the bases with no outs on a Keith single, pinch-hit walk from Rory Smith and hit by pitch of John Glenn. Spohn then drove in two runs with a single through the left side.

Defense, offense, Harry does it all! 😍

» Spohn drives in two runs with this RBI single! We've got an 8-5 leaded headed into the bottom of the 8th. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/LCNl4NbD6i
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 21, 2021

The Bears countered with three runs in the bottom half of the eighth after they loaded the bases with no outs. The Lancers nearly got out of the inning after the first run, but a costly two-out error allowed two more runs to score, which tied the game at 8-8. Cal's standout sophomore Dylan Beavers ended the game with a solo, walk-off homer to right field in the bottom of the ninth.

UP NEXT
The Lancers are back to WAC action when Tarleton State visits Totman Stadium for the first time on March 26-28. The series is set to begin with a 6 p.m. on Friday, March 26, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 27 before a noon series finale on Sunday, March 28.