HOUSTON (AP) — California scored three runs on three errors in the eighth inning and eliminated Rice, the No. 8 national seed, with a 6-3 victory in the Houston Regional on Sunday.
California (33-21) moved on to face Baylor in the regional championship round.
After a lightning delay of 2 hours, 43 minutes in the middle of the eighth, Cal loaded the bases on two errors. With two outs, two runs scored on an error by second baseman Michael Ratterree, and Tony Renda added an RBI single to make it 6-3. The Owls (42-21) made five errors in the game.
Matt Flemer (3-2) allowed one hit in 1 2-3 innings of relief, while reliever Tyler Duffey (8-2) took the loss.
California tied it on a two-run single by Vince Bruno in the fourth, but Keenan Cook’s solo homer in the fifth gave the Owls a 3-2 lead. The Golden Bears tied it again in the seventh Austin Booker’s RBI single.