BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — Otto Espinoza dominated over seven strong innings and the California offense erupted for five first-inning runs, powering the Golden Bears to a 9-1 victory over the San Diego Toreros in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Evans Diamond.

The win improved California’s record to 12-3, while San Diego fell to .500 at 7-7. The game was a continuation of the Golden Bears’ dominance in the series, following an 11-1 win on Friday.

The most important part of the game came immediately, as California seized control in the bottom of the first inning against San Diego starter Fernando Palencia. After a leadoff walk, Daniel Murillo crushed a two-run homer, his third of the season, to give California a lead it would not relinquish. The Golden Bears were far from done. Following two singles, Joshua Hanson delivered a two-run double down the right field line. Hanson then scored on an RBI single and a fielding error by San Diego shortstop Gonzalez, capping the five-run outburst that set the tone for the afternoon.

That was more than enough support for Espinoza, California’s top star. The right-hander was brilliant, scattering three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 Toreros batters. He walked only one and retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced after working out of a minor jam in the third inning. Espinoza has now thrown 10 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts over his last two appearances.

San Diego’s lone run came in the second inning when Phoenix Brant hit a solo home run off Espinoza. The Toreros managed just three hits total, with Brant’s homer accounting for their only extra-base hit. They put multiple runners on base only once, in the third inning, but a double play grounder from Lobliner ended the threat.

California’s offense, which produced 14 hits, added insurance late. Carl Schmidt hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, and the Golden Bears tacked on three more runs in the frame on an RBI single from Hanson and run-scoring doubles by Olmstead and Prather. Hanson finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs, while Jett Kenady went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Reliever Cole Clark closed the game for California with two perfect innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced.

San Diego’s pitching struggled from the outset. Starter Fernando Palencia took the loss, lasting four innings and allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Relievers Porter Rovin and Caleb Sebek combined to allow four runs over the final four innings.

The Interstat game simulator had projected a much closer California victory, 7-6, with the Golden Bears given a 50.4 percent probability to win. The actual result was a decisive wire-to-wire win.

The teams were set to conclude the three-game series with the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday. San Diego will travel to face Southern California on Wednesday, while California will host San Jose State on Tuesday before a marquee home series against North Carolina next weekend.