BERKELEY, Calif. – Villanova and Cal Berkeley had a combined five homeruns that resulted in nine runs between the two teams. The Bears were dominant getting runners on, stealing bases, along with consistent pitching that overpowered the 'Cats in an 8-6 loss Tuesday night at Stu Gordon Stadium.
 
Freshman infielder, Collin Quintano, hit a solo home run in the top of the second for the first run of the game. Senior first baseman, Jack O'Reilly smashed his third homer of the season over the left field wall in the top of the sixth. Junior infielder, Cameron Hassert also hit three-run bomb over the wall in the top of the seventh to get the 'Cats back in the game.
 
Junior pitcher, Cade Udell relieved freshman pitcher Graham Moore heading into the bottom of the third and tossed for a total of 2.2 innings. Udell was on a role from the third to the fourth fanning seven batters and not allowing a run in. He struggled in the bottom of the fifth allowing four runs in before his time on the mound came to an end.
 
Villanova adds to their growing streak of a scoreless first inning across the board for the entire season. The 'Cats struck first in the top of the second with a solo home run from Quintano, his second on the season. The Bears answered back in the bottom of the inning with a home run of their own to set the score at 1-1.
 
After a scoreless their inning, O'Reilly singled to second base followed by Steve Grober taking a walk and Quintano hitting an infield fly. Luke Mutz stepped up to the plate with two on and one out and singled to second base. O'Reilly scored on the play and Grober attempted to book it to third but was caught in the act for the second out. The Wildcats were up again 2-1 going into the bottom of the inning where Udell held the bears off with three strike outs to get out of the inning.
 
The Bears took the lead in the bottom of the fifth capitalizing on a series of unfortunate events for the 'Cats. With bases loaded, Udell hit a runner by a pitch and Cal Berkeley tied the score up 2-2. With three on and two out the runner at third scored on a wild pitch. The Bears went up by two due to an error made by shortstop Larsen which allowed the batter to each first and Cal Berkeley to extend their lead to 5-2.
 
O'Reilly rallied the 'Cats with a lead off bomb over the left field wall to take the trim the Bears lead 5-3 heading into the bottom of the inning. Cal Berkeley's Caleb Lomavita come up to back with two on and one out and ripped a three-run homer to lengthen the Bears lead further, 8-2.
 
The Wildcats were down but not out heading into the top of the seventh with new energy. Paul Cooke doubled down the right field line followed by Josue Valdez clipping a single to the shortstop to have runners paining the corners. Hassert creamed a deep dinger to left center field, his third on the season, driving in three runs to get the 'Cats back into the game 8-6.
 
Patrick Montfort took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and held off the Bears leading to the 'Cats last chance to score in the top of the ninth. AJ Hansen hit a leadoff single to left field and Hassert singled down the left line but the 'Cats couldn't rally a run resulting in a close 8-6 loss to Cal Berkeley.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return on Friday March 10 for their final three-game series in California against Santa Clara. Friday's first pitch is set for 6 pm PST/9pm EST.