April 13, 2002
LOS ANGELES -- The UCLA Bruins scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back in a convincing 10-2 victory over the 16th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils in Pac-10 baseball action Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
UCLA broke a streak of nine losses in the last 10 games with Saturday's victory to improve to 15-21 overall and 2-3 in Pac-10 play. Arizona State had its three-game win streak put to an end and now stand at 23-13 on the year and 7-4 in conference action. The Sun Devils will be looking for their eighth consecutive Pac-10 series victory with tomorrow's rubber match of the three-game series.
Freshman starting pitcher Wes Whisler held the normally potent Sun Devil bats in check by scattering six hits and allowing two runs in seven and a third innings. The freshman from Noblesville, Ind., struck out two and walked three to improve to 3-1 on the year. Whisler allowed only two hits over the final five and third innings of his appearance.
ASU starting pitcher Bryce Kartler took the loss to fall to 2-4 on the year. The junior lefty surrendered five runs (four earned) in four and a third innings. He walked two, hit three batters and struck out one in his 11th appearance of the year. Junior relief pitcher Jered Liebeck finished off the game for the Sun Devils, allowing five runs and six hits in 3.2 innings.
The Bruins were led by the 3-for-5 game of second baseman Ryan Rasmussen and the 3-for-4, three RBI game from catcher Josh Arhart. ASU got two hits each from Steve Garrabrants, Andre Ethier and freshman shortstop Dustin Pedroia.
The Bruins came out of the gates hot, pushing four runs across the plate in the opening frame to take the early lead. Designated hitter Adam Berry plated the first run with a two-out single through the left side of the infield. After third baseman Brandon Averill brought home a run with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch, shortstop Ryan McCarthy drove home two more runs with a sharp single to center field.
ASU cut the 4-0 Bruin lead in half with its only two runs of the game in the top of the second inning. Garrabrants scored Pedroia and senior second baseman Sergio Garcia with a two-out single to right field.
With Whisler in control on the mound, the Bruins extended their lead with single tallies in each the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Arhart belted his second home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh. UCLA added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to bring the game to the final score of 10-2. ASU loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth but reliever Mike Castillo ended the threat by striking out Garrabrants to end the game.
The Sun Devils and Bruins will meet for the final time in the three-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Junior right-hander Robbie McClellan (6-2, 4.35) is scheduled to start for ASU, while UCLA will start its ace in sophomore right-hander Casey Janssen (4-1, 2.81).
Game Notes: ASU used its 19th consecutive different starting lineup... Jeremy West made his first start in the third spot in the lineup and Nick Cadena made his first career start in right field... the two runs in the second inning extended ASU's NCAA consecutive games scoring streak to 411 games. UCLA 10, Arizona State 2 (Apr 13, 2002 at Los Angeles, Calif.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona State....... 020 000 000 - 2 8 2 (23-13, 7-4 PAC-10) UCLA................ 400 011 13X - 10 11 0 (15-21, 2-3 PAC-10) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Arizona State - Kartler, Klusman(5), Liebeck(5). UCLA - Whisler, Castillo(8). Win-Whisler(3-1) Loss-Kartler(2-4) T-2:43 A-661 HR UCLA - Arhart (2). --Sun Devil Baseball--