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2011 College World Series Schedule: Cal Baseball Eliminated By Virginia

Cal has advanced to the 2011 College World Series after the baseball program was on the brink of elimination due to the budget cuts. We'll follow this magical run to its conclusion and provide you with plenty of news updates, previews and recaps of the CWS. For more on Cal, check out California Golden Blogs.

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34 Total Updates since June 13, 2011
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College World Series 2011 Scores: Cal Baseball Ends Magical Run In Omaha, Falling To Virginia

The Cal baseball team had enjoyed some incredible success this season, including one of the most incredible comebacks in college baseball history to win their Regional. But all good things must end, and unfortunately for the Bears they ran into a team that was just better than them. The #1 Virginia Cavaliers took out the Bears in a decisive 8-1 victory. Virginia will move on and face South Carolina, needing two wins to advance (SC needs only one).

Cal's Dixon Anderson was chased after three innings of pitching, giving up two runs but needing 66 pitches to retire 9 batters. Virginia's Tyler Wilson started where he left off on Sunday against the Bears, giving up five hits and striking out five in seven and two-third innings of work. Virginia added four runs in the decisive sixth inning and two more in the ninth.

John Barr was 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs, Kenny Swab went 2 for 5, Keith Weman was 2 for 2 with 1 RBI, David Coleman was 1 for 4 with 1 RBI, Chris Taylor was 1 for 2 with 1 RBI. The Bears also gave up three unearned runs Tony Renda drove Cal's only run home in the bottom of the 8th.

For more on the Bears, head to California Golden Blogs. For more on Virginia, Streaking the Lawn is your place.

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College World Series 2011 Scores: Cal Baseball Rallies Again, Eliminates Texas A&M

At this point, it's no surprise that Cal baseball fell behind 1-0 early to Texas A&M off an Adam Smith solo shot. It's even less of a surprise that Cal instantly rallied back the next half inning, racking up four runs to take the lead for good. The Bears aren't the comeback kids for nothing, and they once again showed that being down and only outs away from elimination (this was no Baylor situation, but still) hardly fazes them at all.

It started in the top of the fifth with a Smith throwing error that allowed Chad Bunting to advance to second. Darrel Matthews singled to left center to put runners at the corners, and then Derek Campbell helped bring them home thanks to another unforced Aggie error, as the center fielder let the ball bounce by him, letting both Bunting and Matthews reach home to make it 2-1 Bears. Austin Booker grounded out to advance Campbell, and Tony Renda sacrificed to help Campbell get home to make it 3-1 Cal. 

Cal kept it going in the top of the sixth. Marcus Semien singled to left on a 2-2 pitch to start the inning, and then Mitch Delfino doubled to get Semien to score. Bunting's single made it 5-1 Cal, and after a Matthews ground out advanced Bunting to second, Campbell's second big single brought another run across and made it 6-1. A&M would pick up two runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a throwing error that foiled a double play (the Aggies got a run off that error, and scored again later on in the inning). Cal got insurance in the 7th when Tony Renda singled, advanced to second and third on consecutive outs, and then Devon Rodriguez brought him home to complete the scoring.

Left-hander pitcher Kyle Porter had a solid outing in earning the win, going six innings and giving up three runs and seven hits while striking out four. Also impressive was relief pitcher Matt Flemer, who came in and earned an old-fashioned nine out, three inning save, allowing three hits and striking out five. Michael Wacha didn't perform poorly (only four earned runs in six and two-thirds innings pitched), but his fielding let him down and A&M is going home as a result.

Cal will face the loser of tonight's Virginia/South Carolina game on Thursday evening at 4 PM PT/7 PM ET on ESPN. 

Check out the California Golden Blogs for more takes on Cal baseball. Check out I Am The 12th Man for Texas A&M perspective.

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College World Series 2011 Scores: Cal Baseball Falls 4-1 To Virginia

Virginia is the number one team in the country this year, and they finally broke down the California Golden Bears in the final stages of the game, scoring two runs in the seventh and two runs in the eighth to break a scoreless tie. Cal added a late run in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Left handed Cavalier ace Danny Hultzen didn't have an outstanding appearance, walking three and allowing three hits, but he didn't give up a run in 6 and a third innings of pitching and struck out six. Tyler Wilson earned the win after pitching 2 and 1/3 innings of relief.

Erik Johnson had less success for the Bears, walking five batters in three innings. Johnson eventually was pulled for Logan Scott, who had three nice innings of work, but with Cal's bats silenced, he ended up with the loss after Virginia finally started crossing runs across in the bottom of the seventh. Keith Werman singled and Chris Taylor walked to start the inning, forcing Matt Flemer came in to relieve Scott. Flemer then gave up the sacrifice bunt to John Barr who advanced the runners, and a John Hicks RBI single and a Steven Proscia RBI sacrifice fly to right field gave Virginia a lead they would not relinquish. 

A Jared King RBI triple to score pinch-runner Mitchell Shifflett and a Werman RBI single capped Virginia's scoring. Chad Bunting gave Cal their only run with an RBI single to left center to score Marcus Semien.

Cal now heads to the Loser's Bracket on Tuesday at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT on ESPN and must beat the South Carolina/Texas A&M loser to stay alive. Virginia will face the winner of that matchup in the Winner's Bracket on Tuesday at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT on ESPN.

For more on the Bears, head over to California Golden Blogs. For UVa coverage, head on to Streaking the Lawn.

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Cal Baseball Officially Reinstated After Nearly Ten Million Dollars Raised

Cal baseball had not been officially granted full reinstatement as an intercollegiate sport, but had been provided provincial status after raising nine of the ten million dollars necessary. With Cal fast closing in on that ten million dollar mark (currently 9.7 million), Chancellor Robert Birgeneau made the inevitable announcement: Cal baseball is back for real. Herb Benenson at Cal Media Relations released this announcement.

"As the semester ends and this baseball season wraps up, I want everyone to know that Cal baseball is formally reinstated," he [Cal chancellor Robert Birgeneau] said. "While we are still just short of the $10 million goal, the fundraising has been so successful that I have no doubt it will soon reach and, indeed, surpass that target."

Along with game day and special event revenues, the fulfillment of these pledges will cover baseball’s direct and indirect costs for the next 7-10 years, allowing sufficient time for the campus and members of the baseball donor community to develop a long-term plan that will financially sustain the team.

Cal has had quite a road this season. First they thought the program was gone. Then they rallied to get the funding needed to survive. Then they scrapped their way to the NCAA Tournament. Then they rallied from an incredible deficit against Baylor to win their Regional. And now after a sweep of Dallas Baptist, they're a few wins away from potentially competing for a national championship. Who says you can't turn an obstacle into an opportunity?

To donate to Cal baseball, click here. To further discuss Cal baseball, head to the California Golden Blogs. 

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