After struggling against the UCLA Bruins on Friday night, the Arizona State Sun Devils battled back and forth with their Pac-12 opponent all night long on Saturday, however the Devils came out on top, winning by a score of 5-4.
Chaz Montoya started the game on the mound for ASU and held the Bruins scoreless for the first five innings. Things began to unravel for the freshman in the sixth inning, however, as two singles put the Bruins on the board first.
Montoya’s struggles continued in the seventh, as the inning started with back-to-back singles and a fielder’s choice. Connor Higgins replaced Montoya on the mound and after getting a fly out, allowed back-to-back two-out doubles to lose the lead for ASU.
After UCLA scored in the top of the sixth, ASU countered back in the bottom half, Lyle Lin crushed his first career home run, then Ryan Lillard tripled in Taylor Lane, who singled.
Despite the Bruins taking the lead in the seventh, the Sun Devils did not give up, as the team collected five hits in the inning and scored three runs. UCLA used three pitchers in the inning, an inning that saw Gage Canning and Carter Aldrete lead off with singles.
After two straight fielder’s choices, Andrew Shaps, Lyle Lin and Taylor Lane all singled in runs, the Sun Devils reclaimed the lead and put the score at 5-4.
Eder Erives took the mound with two runners on in the eighth inning. Erives managed his way out of the jam without allowing a run and pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save for ASU.