April 23, 2006
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Despite taking leads into both the bottom of the ninth and tenth innings, the Sun Devil pitching staff could not hold either lead as ASU fell to the Bruins 11-10 in ten innings at Jackie Robinson Field. The loss drops the Devils to 28-14, 7-5 in the Pac-10, and is the first three-game series ASU has dropped all season.
Arizona State jumped on UCLA starter Tyson Brummett early, as Colin Curtis started the scoring with a two-run shot to right that scored Ryan Sontag. Ike Davis would bring in another run with a single to center, and Frank Mesa would finish the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Brett Wallace. The 4-0 lead was short lived however, as the Bruins got to ASU starter Pat Bresnehan in their half of the first.
UCLA hung two on Bresnehan, scoring on an RBI ground out and on a wild pitch. After one, ASU led 4-2. The Bruins would get to Bresnehan again in the third, chasing him after scoring three to take a 5-4 lead.
The Bruins would strike again in the fourth. After Daryl Arreola loaded the bases, Brett Bordes took over and walked Hector Ambriz to force in a run. After four, UCLA held a 6-4 lead.
ASU would answer in the sixth, chasing Brummett after the first two batters reached. Sontag singled home Preston Paramore to cut it to 6-5. Curtis tied the game with a double down the right field line that brought Andrew Romine home. Eric Sogard gave the Devils the lead back with his sac fly to center that scored Sontag.
UCLA would come back in the seventh, tying the game when Josh Roenicke singled to left off Brady Martinez to even things at 7-7.
Ike Davis gave the Devils the lead back in the top of the ninth with a solo blast to right, but UCLA would tie it in the ninth with an RBI ground out.
ASU would pull ahead again in the tenth when Eric Sogard lined a ball into left center with the bases loaded to bring two home. The Devils headed to the bottom of the tenth clinging to a 10-8 lead, but it was short-lived as UCLA loaded the bases against Matt Trink. Pinch hitter Cody Decker doubled to left to tie the game, then Ryan Babineau's infield single gave the Bruins the win.
Colin Curtis, Eric Sogard and Andrew Romine each had three hits in the loss, but the Sun Devil bullpen allowed six runs and relinquished three leads.
The Sun Devils will know head to Palo Alto for a three-game set with Stanford next weekend.