Oregon got another solid outing from Jace Stoffal and needed its bullpen to hang on for a series-opening win over Cal.
Matt Dallas, Grayson Grinsell and Josh Mollerus combined to allow a hit and two walks over 2.2 scoreless innings for the No. 23 Ducks in a 5-4 win over the Golden Bears Friday night at Evans Diamond.
Colby Shade went 2 for 5 with a triple, home run and two RBIs and Stoffal allowed four runs on six hits and three walks and struck out five over 6.1 innings in a no-decision for Oregon (25-11, 10-6 Pac-12).
Nathan Manning hit an RBI double to give Cal (17-17, 5-14 Pac-12) a 1-0 lead after two.
Shade hit an RBI triple and scored on a single by Drew Cowley as Oregon took a 2-1 lead in the third.
Tanner Smith led off the fourth with a homer and Shade added a solo shot in the fifth to make it 4-1.
After scattering three walks between the third and sixth, Stoffal allowed four hits in the seventh. Manning hit an RBI double and scored on a single and Max Handron tied it with an RBI single that ended the day for UO’s ace.
Cowley hit a one-out single in the eighth and scored on an error by UC shortstop Carson Crawford that proved to be the difference.
Mollerus worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth and struck out three in the ninth for his seventh save of the season.
The teams continue the series at 2 p.m. Saturday.
