In a weekend battle between the two top teams in the Pac-10, No. 21 UCLA (28-22, 12-6 Pac-10) could not preserve the lead it had in all three games.
No. 10 Arizona State (37-12, 14-4 Pac-10) was able to sweep the Bruins and hand them their first Pac-10 series loss of the season at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
“You never want to get swept on the road,” coach John Savage said. “There was a good crowd out there and that team is probably the best team at home in the country, and we had an opportunity to win each (game). It is a regional type of environment that gave us a chance to learn.”
The Bruins went down 16-14 in a wild nine-inning affair that lasted four hours and 12 minutes on Friday night. Not only was the temperature at game’s start a scorching 98 degrees, but the same word could be used to describe both teams’ offenses, with the teams combining to score 30 runs and tally 35 hits. The first run of the game came on an inside-the-park home run by senior left-fielder Will Penniall, an indication of things to come. UCLA led 14-7 at one point, but the Sun Devils scored nine unanswered runs in response to the Bruins’ six-run sixth inning.
“We knew they were a good team, and I think we sent a message that UCLA can play with anyone,” Savage said. “We hit their pitching well, and we just have to give them credit for coming back.”
Senior right-hander Tyson Brummett, known for his ability to go the distance, could not make it out of the seventh inning. Brummett gave up 12 runs (eight of those earned) and 14 hits while striking out seven.
“It is a lesson for all of us to play all nine,” catcher Ryan Babineau said. “It teaches us to never be satisfied.”
On Saturday night, the Bruins received a stellar performance from starter Tim Murphy. The sophomore left-hander gave up three runs on six hits while striking out a career-high 14 batters in eight innings of work.
UCLA went into the bottom of the ninth leading 4-3, after breaking a tie in the seventh inning when second baseman Eddie Murray scored from third on a wild pitch.
Freshman Charles Brewer relieved closer Brant Rustich and inherited two base-runners with no outs in his collegiate debut, giving up the game-tying run on a single to left field. Following a sacrifice bunt that advanced runners to second and third, Brewer intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases with one out. The move brought up Matt Spencer, who had already homered twice in the game. Spencer promptly singled to left, giving the Sun Devils a walk-off win and breaking the first-place tie in the Pac-10 standings.
In the Sunday afternoon shootout, the Bruins led 7-0 before eventually losing 11-10. Left-handed starter Gavin Brooks gave up nine runs, nine hits, and struck out six in five and two-thirds innings pitched. Shortstop Brandon Crawford gave the Bruins a quick 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning with a two-run home run. In the second inning, third baseman Jermaine Curtis responded with a two-run home run of his own to put the Bruins up 5-0. Crawford later drove in three more runs with a pair of singles.
“In the big picture, we know we can play with the best,” Savage said. “We are a travel-tested team that has not dodged anyone and we can play well heading into regionals.”
The Bruins now look to bounce back with a weekend series against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., beginning on Friday.