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BERKELEY, Calif. -- Two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir had a good excuse not to watch the Stanford football teammate’s spring game Saturday. He was on his way to Berkeley to hit opposite field three-run home runs in the eighth and ninth innings at California’s Evans Diamond.
Hoffpauir’s two homers and six RBI set career highs, but Cal negated a furious Stanford rally with a walk-off 11-10 win in front of 1,268 fans. Brian Celsi capped a 3-for-5 day with a two-out RBI single in the ninth to send the Bears home a winner.
Stanford (13-19, 1-10 Pac-12) scored six times in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 10, culminated by Hoffpauir’s second blast. The junior right fielder followed a Beau Branton two-RBI single up the middle and Tommy Edman’s RBI single through the right side.
California (22-10, 8-5 Pac-12), which led 6-1 after four innings, had taken what seemed like a comfortable 10-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth by scoring four times on five hits. Before the four-spot, Hoffpauir had given the Cardinal life by drilling his first homer of the day down the right field line to make the score 6-4.
Hoffpauir was one RBI short of the modern Stanford record (7) last achieved by Brian Ragira at Washington State April 2, 2011. He also became the first Cardinal to hit two home runs in a game since Alex Blandino hit a pair at Saint Mary’s April 23 of last season.
It was an eventful final three innings for Hoffpauir, who also came up with a highlight-reel catch in the seventh. On a popup down the line, he caught the ball steps before slamming into the waist-high bullpen fence and flipping over while hanging on for the out.
Zach Hoffpauir #12best. And he stuck the landing - http://t.co/JkW6I12jSv
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) April 12, 2015
The two-out, nobody-on catch seemed somewhat insignificant at the time, but every out ended up figuring in to the final score. The Cardinal ended one out away from extra innings, as Gabe Cramer (0-2) took the loss by surrendering California’s last run. Stanford had wiped away a leadoff single by turning a nifty 4-6-3 double play before a double from Nick Halamandaris and Celis’ clinching single to center field.
All nine Bears’ starters had hits and starting pitcher Ryan Mason was strong through 6.2 innings on the mound, allowing one run on four hits, one walk, two hit by pitches and three strikeouts.
Chris Muse-Fisher (3-1) earned the win by retiring three straight Cardinal in the top of the ninth. He entered after Dylan Nelson allowed his second homer to Hoffpauir.
Sophomore lefty Chris Castellanos was the most effective of five Stanford pitchers. He went 3.2 innings, including his first three innings scoreless, while allowing three runs on three hits and striking out four. Castellanos relieved Tyler Thorne, who allowed six runs on eight hits in his second start of the season.
Jack Klein, Mikey Diekroeger and Tommy Edman joined Hoffpauir with two hits apiece. Edman and Beau Branton each drove in a pair.
Pac-12 Networks Bay Area will have coverage of tomorrow’s finale. Stanford looks for its first series win in conference play after winning Friday, 4-2.
