University of California

                Since their World Series appearance in 2011 Cal has not played in a NCAA Regional and is coming off the worst season (23-31) in head coach David Esquer's 14 year tenure.  But with some upperclassmen that experienced that 2011 run mixed with a talented class of freshmen pitchers, the Golden Bears have started the 2014 season 8-5 against good competition.  Arkansas will play Cal in a double header on Sunday starting at 3:00 pm central.

                To start the season, Cal split a 4 game series at home against No. 18 ranked Texas, winning 7-0 and 2-1 while losing 2-6 and 0-5.  They then went to Auburn to play in the Tiger Classic came out a perfect 3-0 with wins over East Tennessee State 3-0, Auburn 5-0, and Arkansas Pine Bluff 8-3.  Last weekend Cal drove over to San Diego to compete in the University of San Diego Tournament where they beat Baylor twice (8-5, 5-3) and host No. 24 San Diego (5-2).  Stanford gave the Golden Bears a 1-11 loss in a midweek game on Tuesday.

                The talent of this California team lies solely in its pitching staff and specifically, as mentioned earlier, a few freshmen pitchers.  Freshman righty Daulton Jefferies made an impressive collegiate debut shutting out Texas for 6 innings and ETSU for 7 in back to back starts to open the season.  Coming into the Cal Classic Jefferies is 2-0 on the season with a 1.08 ERA and has recorded 5 walks and 13 strikeouts in 16.2 innings over 3 starts.  Arkansas will not have to face Jefferies or fellow freshman Alex Martinez (0-0, 1.35, 6.2 innings) this weekend as they will start Cal’s first two games.  Instead, the Golden Bears will throw experienced senior lefty Kyle Porter (1-0, 1.35) in the first game and junior lefty Mich Theofanopopulus (1-1, 3.27) in the second game. 

                Porter has been used primarily as a reliever leading up to this season but has made 3 starts and has struck out 9 batters and only walked 2 in 13.1 innings.  Opponents are hitting .327 against him which could help Arkansas find more timely hits and score more runs than they have in the last few games.  Theofanopoulos is a converted outfielder from his freshman year and only pitched 9 innings last year before breaking his thumb.  He has made two starts this season and has 11 strikeouts in 11 innings to go with 4 walks and a .143 opponent average.  Senior right hander Trevor Hildenberger (0-0, 2.00) has the most appearances out of the bullpen and leads the team with 3 saves.  He has 10 strikeouts and 1 walk issued in 9 innings and has been utilized in multiple innings saves this season.  Arkansas could also see sophomore Ryan Mason (2-0, 1.12) out of the bullpen.  Mason has 4 appearances, all in relief, and has allowed only 1 run in 8 innings with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk.  Lucas Erceg is another freshman right hander who is highly regarded and has thrown 3.2 scoreless innings this year, surrendering only 1 hit and 2 walks. 

                Offensively the Golden Bears come into the weekend with a .241 team average, 3 home runs and 36 driven in.  Their slugging and on base percentages are equal at .328 while they have 51 strikeouts to only 29 walks in 311 at bats.  They are lead by senior left fielder Vince Bruno with a .387 average, 12 hits, 1 home run and 5 RBI.  He only has 2 strikeouts and 1 walk while posting a .412 on base percentage and is slugging .548.  Senior designated hitter Devon Rodriguez is hitting .286 with 10 hits, 1 home run, 6 RBI and a .419 on base percentage.  Junior Derek Campbell (.256) and sophomore Nick Halamandaris (.250) each have 10 hits and 6 RBI on the season with 7 doubles between them.  This Cal lineup is very similar top to bottom.  You won’t find a lot of power anywhere and after Bruno and Rodriguez they all even out around a .200 to .250 average. 

                Cal has started the weekend 0-2 with losses to Tulane (10-5) and San Francisco (1-0).  Despite their record, they will still have plenty of good pitchers to throw at Arkansas.  It could be all hands on deck for both teams with a double header on the back end of a 4 game weekend.  After losing the opener to San Francisco, Arkansas will need great efforts from each hand to sweep the doubleheader if they are going to claim an argument for a regional host this season.