BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — In a wild offensive display that defied pregame projections, the California Golden Bears overcame an early six-run deficit to outslug the San Diego Toreros 15-9 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Evans Diamond.

The game, which featured 28 combined hits and multiple lead changes, saw its momentum irrevocably shift during a decisive bottom of the sixth inning. Trailing 9-7, the Golden Bears sent 10 batters to the plate and erupted for five runs to seize control for good.

California’s comeback began immediately after San Diego had extended its lead to 9-7 in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from Gabe Springer. The Golden Bears’ response in their half of the inning was immediate and explosive. Max Campbell led off with a double and scored on a Jett Kenady single. Joshua Hanson then tied the game with an RBI double, scoring Kenady. Gannon Snyder followed with another double to bring Hanson home, giving California its first lead at 10-9.

The pivotal blow came from right fielder Kevin Jeon, who capped the rally with a towering two-run homer to deep right field, scoring Snyder and pushing the advantage to 12-9. Jeon, who entered the game hitless in his previous six at-bats dating to March 4, finished 3 for 3 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored, solidifying his status as the game’s top star.

San Diego had appeared poised for a rout after a chaotic first inning. The Toreros batted around and scored six unearned runs, capitalizing on a California error. The big hit was a three-run homer by Tanner Kern, giving the visitors a commanding 6-0 lead before California had even taken a swing.

The Golden Bears chipped away with small ball, plating two runs in the first on sacrifice flies by Rodney Murillo and Campbell. They added two more in the second on an RBI double from Snyder and a sacrifice fly from Jacob French, narrowing the gap to 6-4.

San Diego added single runs in the second and sixth innings, the latter on Springer’s double, to maintain a narrow edge at 9-7 before California’s game-changing sixth.

Take Kreis earned the win in relief for California, providing 2 2/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing two hits and striking out two. His entry in the sixth helped stabilize the game after the Golden Bears had taken the lead.

Springer was brilliant in defeat for San Diego, going a perfect 4 for 4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. Catcher Jayden Lobliner added three hits and two RBIs for the Toreros.

California tacked on insurance runs in the eighth on a solo homer from Kenady and a two-run shot from catcher Hideki Prather. San Diego scored its final two runs in the ninth on a solo homer by Springer and an RBI single from Lobliner.

With the victory, California improved to 12-3 overall, while San Diego fell to .500 at 7-7. The teams were set to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday. The result stood in stark contrast to the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a narrow 7-6 California victory and gave the Golden Bears just a 50.40 percent probability to win.