SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah baseball scored four runs in the fifth inning, but it proved to not be enough as the Cal Bears took the series opener 8-4 at Smith’s Ballpark on Friday, May 3.

Utah had seven hits on the night with seven different players each having one. Jayden Kiernan led the way with two RBI.

Cal got things going with two three-run homers with one coming in the second and the other in the fourth to build their lead up to 8-0.

The Utes responded with the four runs in the fifth the cut the lead in half, but couldn’t get any closer than that to the Bears.

Utah had some two-out magic in the fifth as Rykker Tom drew a walk and Erick Migueles hit a single. Cal had an error on the next play and Utah made them pay after that. Zack Moeller doubled to score Migueles and then Kiernan picked up his two RBI with a single to total the four runs.

Unfortunately, the Utes only had one more hit the rest of the way to fall in the series opener.

Nick Caviglia came on for relief of Riley Pierce and the freshman pitcher had his best outing yet in a Utah uniform. He went 5.2 innings pitched and only gave up three hits and zero runs.

Utah and Cal will be back at it for game two at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at Smith’s Ballpark.