Cal Baseball Foundation

July 2015 Volume 2, Issue 3 Baseball Foundation Golden Bear News & Notes ALUMNI ISSUE O n a monumental day in which the No. 22 California Golden Bears (32- 17, 16-10 Pac-12) evened the series with the No. 15 USC Trojans (35- 17, 16-10 Pac-12) by winning 7-5 on Sunday night at Evans Diamond, three graduating seniors were honored in a special pregame ceremony. • Chris Muse-Fisher – Pitcher, 2015 Pac-12 Conference Baseball All-Academic Team • Dylan Nelson – Pitcher, 23 appearances, 2-1, 2.93 era, 8 saves • Chris Paul – First Base, 2015 First Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, and ABCA/Rawlings Second Team West All-Region Each senior played a big part in Sunday's victory. Paul drove in three runs, going 2-for-4 on the day to help lead California offensively. On the mound, Muse-Fisher logged 3.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on one hit with three strikeouts. Closer Nelson earned the save with two spotless innings, including a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the pesky Trojans. USC opened strong, leading the Bears 2-0 in the top of the second, but the Bears battled back in the bottom of the second to seize a 3-2 lead. California mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. Junior outfielder Devin Pearson hit a double off of the left field wall to start things for the Bears. After sophomore third baseman Lucas Erceg drew a walk, Paul laced a two-run double into the left field corner to move the Golden Bears in front. USC fought back to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh frame with a two-spot of its own. The Bears retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI double by junior outfielder Brian Celsi. Paul had singled to open the inning and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by junior outfielder Mitchell Kranson. Celsi then put a charge into a Tyler Gilbert offering deep into the left-center field gap off the glove of Stahel. Cal then added an important insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Paul to push the lead to 7-5. Nelson shut the door with a six-out save (his eighth of the year), and the Bears evened the series at one game apiece, retiring the Trojans in order in the top of the ninth. "It means that much more on senior day," Paul said following the win. "Having my family here, it was a really fun day, and it was even better that we got the win. This is the best team I've been on since I've been here. As a senior, you want to leave the program better than you found it. It looks like that's the case and it's awesome." Head Coach David Esquer reflected on this incredible group, saying, "This senior class is small but very special to me. They agreed to come after a very difficult period in Cal history and committed themselves to getting the program where it belonged. Through perseverance, maturity, and leadership, they helped bring our team to the regional finals this past season—a great accomplishment and even greater when you understand their journey to get there. They leave with knowledge that with hard work, commitment, and perseverance, they can lift any team they're on to great heights." HONORING OUR NEWEST GRADUATES ON SENIOR DAY Seniors Chris Muse-Fisher, Dylan Nelson, and Chris Paul were honored in a special pregame ceremony this spring.

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