BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — Oliver de la Torre delivered a dominant start and the California lineup erupted for 15 hits as the Golden Bears routed the San Diego Toreros 11-1 in nonconference baseball action Friday at Evans Diamond.

The game, which saw the Bears outperform statistical projections that favored a close San Diego win, was effectively decided by a relentless California offense that broke open a one-run contest with a pair of big innings.

San Diego struck first in the second inning. Catcher Jayden Lobliner led off with a triple to deep center field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Howard. That lone run, however, would be the extent of the Toreros’ offense against de la Torre.

California answered immediately in the bottom of the frame. After Jett Kenady walked, Gannon Snyder doubled him home to tie the game. The Bears then took the lead for good in the third when catcher Hideki Prather launched a solo home run to deep left field.

The most important sequence of the game came in the fourth inning, when California sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs to seize full control. Kenady provided the big blow, a two-run homer to left center that scored Schmidt. Later in the inning, with two on, Jacob French doubled to right center, driving in two more. A throwing error on the play allowed French to take third, highlighting a sloppy defensive inning for the Toreros that helped fuel the rally.

California put the game completely out of reach with another four-run outburst in the sixth. With two on and two out, Murillo singled to left, scoring two. After a wild pitch, Cade Campbell capped the inning by crushing a two-run homer to left center, making the score 10-1. Campbell added a final RBI single in the eighth to complete the scoring.

The offensive support was more than enough for de la Torre, who earned the win. The California starter pitched six strong innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out nine. He set the tone early, striking out the side in order in the first inning and consistently working out of minimal trouble. Reliever Quinn Larson preserved the bullpen with two perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

For San Diego, Lobliner was a bright spot, going 3 for 3 with a double and a triple before being lifted for a pinch hitter. Toreros reliever Aídan Gonzalez pitched a scoreless seventh inning in the loss.

The victory improves California’s season record to 10-3, while San Diego falls to 7-5. The two teams are scheduled to continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday.

Based on the play descriptions, the most important part of the game was the bottom of the fourth inning. With California holding a narrow 2-1 lead, the Golden Bears’ offense exploded for four runs, transforming a tight pitcher’s duel into a commanding 6-1 advantage. The inning featured key extra-base hits, including Jett Kenady’s two-run homer, and was compounded by San Diego fielding errors that extended the rally and allowed additional runs to score. This offensive surge provided starter Oliver de la Torre with a significant cushion and shifted the game’s momentum entirely in California’s favor, setting the stage for the subsequent blowout.