May 11, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - Round one in the battle for Pac-10 supremacy went to the Sun Devils in a back-and-forth game, as Arizona State came from behind to pick up the 16-14 win. ASU scored nine runs over the final three innings to improve to 35-12, 12-4 in the Pac-10.
The Sun Devils jumped out to a 7-1 lead after three, thanks in part to a massive three-run homer by Kiel Roling. The lead would not last long however, as UCLA scored 13 runs over the next three innings off starter Mike Leake and Joey Parigi to make it 14-7.
There was no quit in the Devils, as they began to chip away at the lead in the sixth. A Roling RBI single scored Wallace, setting the stage for the comeback. With two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, Eric Sogard sent a sharp grounder to the Bruin second baseman. The ball squirted between his legs, allowing Tim Smith and Matt Spencer to score. Brett Wallace made UCLA pay for the error, tattooing a ball into right center for his 14th home run of the season. That made it 14-13 heading to the eighth. After Dustin Brader retired the Bruins, Petey Paramore drew a one-out walk and was replaced at first by Jarred Bogany, representing the tying run. With two gone, Tim Smith drew a walk to put runners at first and second for Andrew Romine. After quickly falling into an 0-2 hole, Romine battled back to shoot a ball down the left field line. Both runners scored, and Romine was at third with a two-run triple. Joe Persichina singled Romine home, giving the Sun Devils a 16-14 lead heading to the ninth.
Matt Spencer started the ninth on the mound, walking a batter and recording a strikeout before giving way to Jason Jarvis. Jarvis retired both men he faced to secure his sixth save.
Dustin Brader picked up the win, upping his record to 2-0. He went 2.2 innings, allowing a run on two hits with two strike outs. Leake started and went 5.1, allowing 10 runs, seven earned, on 15 hits. UCLA starter Tyson Brummett went 6.2 innings, allowing 12 runs, eight earned, on 14 hits.
Brett Wallace was 3-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Matt Spencer went 4-5 with three RBI. Kiel Roling, Petey Paramore and Andrew Romine each had two hits in the win.
The Devils and Bruins will do it again tomorrow evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. FSN Arizona will televise the game live.