Oregon dug out of a four-run deficit but couldn’t contain Cal’s offense.
A two-run home run by Carson Crawford proved the difference in an 8-6 loss for the No. 23 Ducks to the Golden Bears Saturday afternoon at Evans Diamond.
Five straight Cal batters reached base in the second with Nathan Manning drawing a bases-loaded walk and Dom Souto hitting a two-run double off Logan Mercado.
Oregon (25-12, 10-7 Pac-12) got on the board in the top of the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles by Anson Aroz and Gavin Grant.
Mercado walked the bases loaded and Caleb Lomavita doubled to drive in three and make it 6-2. The Ducks right-hander allowed six runs on six hits and five walks and struck out four over 3.1 innings in a no-decision.
Oregon tied it in the sixth as Aroz hit a two-run home run and Gavin Grant and Rikuu Nishida each stole bases and a throwing error allowed them each to score.
Cal (18-17, 6-14) regained the lead in the seventh on Crawford’s one-out homer to left off Matt Dallas. Grayson Grinsell (1-1) allowed a leadoff double in the inning and took the loss for UO.
The teams will play the rubber game of the series at noon Sunday.
