Friday
Final: No. 16 UCLA 5, ASU 4
ASU fell behind quickly by way of defensive miscues as the Bruins took a 4-0 lead after two innings of play. The Sun Devils struggled offensively until the top of the seventh inning, when freshman infielder Spencer Torkelson smashed his 11th home run of the season over the left field wall, tying Barry Bonds’ freshman home run record.
The dinger would put ASU on the board and begin a seventh inning rally that saw the Bruins’ lead shrink to 4-3. The Sun Devils tied in the top half of the next inning as Torkelson delivered again, this time by way of a sacrifice fly to center field which scored junior outfielder Gage Canning. The game remained tied after nine innings; however, UCLA would get an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning from sophomore infielder Kyle Cuellar to win the game, 5-4.
Saturday
Final: No. 16 UCLA, 12 ASU 1
Freshman pitcher Boyd Vander Kooi struggled out of the gate as the right hander only managed to go 2.1 innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs. The Sun Devil bullpen could not hold the Bruins at bay after Vander Kooi’s exit, as each relief pitcher surrendered at least one earned run. ASU’s lone run came in the top of the sixth inning, when sophomore outfielder Hunter Bishop homered down the right field line. It was Bishop’s first home run of the 2018 season.
With the victory, though, the Bruins won the season series, but the Sun Devils would try to salvage the finale Sunday in Los Angeles.
Sunday
Final: ASU 4, No. 16 UCLA 0
Senior pitcher Eli Lingos was the story Sunday as the left hander cruised eight innings, surrendering only five hits while striking out eight batters. Lingos threw 125 pitches, and his eight punch outs Sunday are both season highs.
The Sun Devils struck first in the top of the fifth inning when freshman infielder Gage Workman hit an RBI double to right center field, scoring senior infielder Taylor Lane. ASU added to the lead the very next inning when freshman infielder Alika Williams connected on a 1-0 pitch to left field, scoring both sophomore infielders Carter Aldrete and Lyle Lin for a 3-0 advantage. With the win, ASU is now back at .500 (12-12) and 4-2 in the Pac-12. It is also ASU’s third win in California this season.
Reach the reporter at michael.baron@asu.edu or follow @Michael_Baron96 on Twitter.
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