April 21, 2006
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Thanks to a career high 10 strikeouts by starter Josh Satow, the tenth ranked Arizona State Sun Devils were able to outlast the UCLA Bruins 3-2 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Satow, whose previous high in Ks was six, improved to 3-0 on the year. Arizona State is now 28-12, 7-3 in the Pac-10.
The game had the look of a pitchers duel early, as UCLA starter Hector Ambriz and Satow both had no trouble handling the opposing teams lineup. Ambriz, who picked up the loss to fall to 5-5, lasted seven innings, struck out five, and allowed only two earned runs.
Andrew Romine got the scoring started for the Devils in the fifth inning. After doubling to left to lead the inning off, Romine moved to third on a passed ball. He came home on an RBI ground out by J.J. Sferra to put ASU up 1-0. The lead was short lived however, as UCLA's Ryan Babineau took Satow deep to left to knot the game at one apiece.
The Devils jumped back on top in the sixth, as Frank Mesa took Ambriz out to right field for a 2-1 Arizona State advantage. ASU would add another in the seventh, thanks to an error by UCLA. Colin Curtis took two bases on a dropped fly ball in right, then moved to third on a sac bunt by Seth Dhaenens. That brought up Eric Sogard, who sent a liner off Ambriz, allowing Curtis to score.
The Bruins would claw back in the bottom of the seventh, as Josh Roenicke singled off Daryl Arreola to score Brandon Crawford and make it 3-2 ASU. Brett Bordes would take over for Arreola, escaping some precarious situations thanks to some solid defense off the mound and some timely strike outs to pick up his second save of the year.
Satow went five innings, allowing only one run on three hits and fanning ten. Bordes pitched 2.1 innings for the save, allowing no runs, two hits and striking out two.
Eric Sogard and Brett Wallace each had two hits, as did Andrew Romine, who returned to the lineup for the first time since April 2nd.
The Devils and Bruins will play again on Saturday afternoon, first pitch is set for 2 PM.