(Photo: Dominic Controneo/WCSN)
After Arizona State’s 12-4 onslaught of the Bruins on Friday night, UCLA was out to get even in game two and force a series deciding matinee on Sunday. The Bruins did just that.
UCLA (25-27, 12-14) defeated Arizona State (32-19, 14-12) 13-2 at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Saturday, making Sunday afternoon’s game three all the more interesting.
In this contest the Sun Devils were outmatched from the start, as UCLA got out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning.
Tracy Smith elected to start Eli Lingos and the results couldn’t have been much worse.
Lingos wasn’t able to record an out, giving up four hits and five runs before being pulled in favor of James Ryan.
The relief effort of Ryan, Grant Schneider and Fitz Stadler didn’t fare much better – the trio combined to pitch for five innings, yielding nine hits and seven runs.
In all, the UCLA bats compiled 16 hits against the Sun Devil bullpen and all but earned the victory before the second inning.
It was a night where everything went right for the Bruins, while the Sun Devils waited for the opportunity to live to fight another day.
Player of the Game: Grant Dyer, P, UCLA
Dyer exemplified everything the Sun Devils were missing in this matchup – an effective pitcher, able to last longer than three innings. Dyer hurled a gem for the Bruins, finishing an out away from a complete game. He surrendered six hits and two earned runs to go along with eight strikeouts.
Biggest concern: Sun Devil bullpen
It seems as though the only two pitchers the Sun Devils have been able to rely on are Seth Martinez and Eder Erives. Beyond those two, ASU has lacked someone who can pitch multiple effective innings, sporadic performances from role players aside. The weakness was exemplified again tonight in a game where six pitchers combined to give up 16 hits, 13 earned runs and six walks.
What’s next?
ASU will look to get back in the win column tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in the series finale against the Bruins. Given the fact that Erives hasn’t pitched yet in the series, he could earn the nod tomorrow. If ASU can clinch the series tomorrow, it would mark their fourth-straight conference series win.
