BERKELEY, Calif. – It was a back-and-forth affair at Evans Diamond on Tuesday night, but the 12^th-ranked Cal Bears did just enough to hold off USF by a score of 5-4.
 
Cal (2-2) put up two early runs with back-to-back RBI doubles by Brenden Farney and Brett Cumberland in the bottom of the first, but Aaron Ping's towering opposite field two-run home run in the top of the second evened the score at 2-2.
 
USF starter Benji Post kept the Cal offense in check until the bottom of the fourth when the Bears added three runs on a sac fly and a two-run double to right center off the bat of Mitchell Kranson.
 
Trailing 5-2 in the seventh, USF (0-5) plated a pair of runs when Nico Giarratano endured a 10-pitch at bat to slice an RBI single through the right side, followed by Dan James' RBI base hit that he fisted over the infield into centerfield to bring the Dons within one.   
 
However, Cal closer Erik Martinez would shut the door from there, keeping the Dons scoreless en route to his second save of the season.
 
"I was happy with the effort tonight," said head coach Nino Giarratano. "We've got some guys going in the right direction. I thought Benji Post was better tonight, [Matt] Warkentin was good, [Frank] Waliczek again, for the third time, came in and did exactly what we needed him to do. Brock Larson gave us a zero right there.
 
"I thought offensively we were good tonight, we just couldn't score runs. We had the right people up at the right time. I was happy with a lot of things baseball-wise, and I think if we can continue to play like this we'll win our share of games."
 
Post (0-2) lasted 3.1 innings in the loss, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks.
 
At the plate, the story for USF was just missing that one big hit to make a difference. Manny Ramirez, Jr. hit a ball to the warning track with two runners on early in the game that was caught, and Ping struck out swinging on a tough slider on the outside half with a runner on third in the top of the sixth.  
 
On the pitching side, USF received another solid relief outing from lefty Frank Waliczek, who gave the Dons a chance when he came on in relief of Matthew Warkentin in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. Waliczek slithered out of the jam by striking out Nick Halamandaris and battling back from a 3-0 count to induce a ground out from Brian Celsi.
 
Harrison Bruce led the Dons with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, scoring a run.
 
Farney and Kranson each had two hits for Cal, while Aaron Shortridge (1-0) picked up the win by going 3.0 shutout innings in relief, striking out two.  
 
  
WEB GEMS: In the bottom of the first, SS Nico Giarratano tracked down a pop fly down the left field line behind third base and made a full extension diving snag right along the foul line.
 
NOTES: C Dom Miroglio broke out of an 0-for-15 slump with a two-out line drive single to right field in the second inning… with two outs in the top of the fourth, Aaron Ping ripped a line drive down the third base line that was a sure double, but it hit the umpire, giving Ping a single – Ping ended up stranded at first… Fr. LHP Matthew Warkentin made his USF pitching debut when he came on in relief to start the fifth inning – Warkentin has already played first base and right field this season… this was the first game this season USF outhit its opponent (14-7) and it also marks a season high for hits in a game… RS-Jr. RHP Brock Larson made his season debut when he came on in relief to start the bottom of the eighth.  
 
UP NEXT: The Dons return to Evans Diamond on Wednesday night to host the Utah Valley Wolverines in a neutral site matchup that will serve as the Dons' first "home" game. First pitch is at 7 p.m. with RHP Joey Carney (0-0, 0.00) taking the mound for the Dons.