May 3, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - UCLA evened up the three-game weekend series with Arizona State with an 8-3 win on Saturday at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. ASU had their chances but stranded 12 runners in the loss. The Devils fall to 36-8, 11-6 in Pac-10 play.
The Bruins were able to keep ASU at arm's length all afternoon, as the Sun Devils could never pull even after falling behind early. UCLA Starter Charles Brewer went 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and striking out two. He gave up three runs and picked up his sixth win of the season. ASU starter Josh Satow lasted 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He walked five and struck out one, taking the loss to fall to 5-3.
UCLA scored off Satow in the first when Brandon Crawford singled home Blair Dunlap to put UCLA up 1-0. Casey Haerther made it 3-0 with a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the third.
Arizona State got on the board in the fourth, scoring on a Kiel Roling sacrifice fly that brought home Brett Wallace to make it 3-1. Marcel Champagnie's pinch hit single up the middle later in the inning scored Petey Paramore to cut the lead to 3-2. UCLA made it 4-2 on a Jermaine Curtis solo shot in the fifth.
Arizona State pulled to within 4-3 in the sixth when Ryan Sontag drew a bases loaded walk to score Rocky Laguna. ASU was unable to get anyone else across, leaving the bases juiced. UCLA would answer right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring a run off Dustin Brader to make it 5-3.
UCLA added some insurance in the eighth of Reyes Dorado, scoring three times to make it 8-3 heading to the ninth. The Bruins closed out the Devils in the ninth to seal the win.
The Bruins bullpen kept the Devils at bay, as two UCLA relief pitchers held Arizona State to only two hits over the final 3.2 innings. ASU stranded seven runners over the final four innings.
Sun Devil pitchers issued eight walks and allowed nine UCLA hits. Brett Wallace and Petey Paramore each had two hits in the loss. Arizona State was once again without Ike Davis, who missed his fourth straight game.
The Devils and Bruins will play the rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. from Jackie Robinson Stadium.