COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Cal, Playing on Grass, Slips to Fresno State : Nonconference: Donati comes on to lead Bulldogs over Bears, 25-24, on Memorial Stadium’s new playing surface.

Richie Donati came off the bench to lead three second-half scoring drives, and Fresno State rallied to beat California, 25-24, on Saturday.

The game was the first on the freshly installed $1.5 million grass field, which replaced the artificial playing surface used at Memorial Stadium for 14 years.

Donati, benched as the starter this week in favor of junior college transfer Jim Arellanes, got the Bulldogs (2-0) close with a 30-yard touchdown pass to fullback Reggie Brown with 11:20 left.

Donati then directed an 80-yard drive for the go-ahead score, a six-yard run by Michael Pittman with five minutes left.

Cal (0-2) drove to the Fresno State 39 in the last minute of play, but Ryan Longwell’s 56-yard field goal try fell short and Fresno State ran out the clock.

Cal’s Pat Barnes, younger brother of former UCLA quarterback John Barnes, threw for two touchdowns and completed 13 of 27 for 215 yards, but lost three fumbles.

Donati, who completed 11 of 19 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, entered midway through the third quarter after Arellanes, a transfer from L.A. Valley College, took a hit from linebacker Marlon McWilson and fumbled.

Donati, a junior from Santa Barbara who started eight games last season, got Fresno State within five points of the Bears at 17-12 with a 25-yard scoring pass to Brown, who had three touchdowns in the game. But Cal answered with an 84-yard catch and run by Na’il Benjamin.