SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — Otto Espinoza and a parade of California relievers combined on a two-hit shutout, and the Golden Bears’ offense broke through in the middle innings for an 8-0 victory over the San Francisco Dons on Monday at Dante Benedetti Diamond at Max Ulrich Field.

The win, which defied a pregame projection from Interstat’s simulator favoring San Francisco 7-1, improved California to 15-16. The Dons fell to 16-14. The Bears’ pitching staff dominated, holding San Francisco to just two singles while striking out 15 and inducing two double plays to repeatedly snuff out threats.

The most critical juncture of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning, with California holding a fragile 2-0 lead. San Francisco loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Jett Wright and his successor, Garrett Mackowiak, on a double by Harries and walks to Landry and Esquivel, who was hit by a pitch. California manager David Esquer summoned Ryan Spalliero from the bullpen to face the heart of the Dons’ order.

Spalliero struck out Garrison looking for the first out. Davis then grounded sharply to second base, where the Bears turned a routine 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and preserve the two-run advantage. The defensive gem completely shifted the momentum, deflating the home team and setting the stage for California’s offensive breakout.

The Bears seized that momentum immediately in the top of the seventh, capitalizing on a San Francisco error to break the game open. With one on, Schmidt’s sacrifice bunt attempt was thrown away by pitcher Gomez, allowing Applefield to score. Kodama followed with a sacrifice fly, Hanson added an RBI double and Prather capped the four-run rally with another sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 6-0.

California added two more runs in the eighth on an RBI double by Murillo and a run-scoring double play to complete the scoring.

The story, however, was the collective effort on the mound, led by Espinoza. The starter, named the top star, delivered three perfect innings with three strikeouts, a stark and timely rebound from his previous outing on April 2 when he allowed five earned runs while recording just one out against Georgia Tech. Wright followed with two hitless innings, striking out four. After Spalliero escaped the sixth-inning jam, Take Kreis, Trent Roach and Jordy Lopez finished the combined shutout, with Lopez striking out two in a perfect ninth.

San Francisco’s Alan Gonzalez, Jake Andreas and Gino Rossi provided solid relief, but the Dons’ offense never solved California’s pitching. The Dons grounded into inning-ending double plays in both the sixth and eighth, squandering their few opportunities.

California’s offense produced 10 hits, with French, Kenady and Hanson each collecting two. The Bears executed small ball effectively, recording two sacrifice flies and taking advantage of three wild pitches and a key error.

The Bears continue their road trip with a three-game series at Pittsburgh beginning Friday. San Francisco opens a West Coast Conference series at home against San Diego on Friday. The two Bay Area rivals are scheduled to meet again in a home-and-home set, starting in Berkeley on April 21.