UCLA
14-4, 4-0
Arizona State
11-11, 3-1
No. 16 UCLA Walks Off against ASU in Extras, 5-4
March 23, 2018 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – Kyle Cuellar drove in the game-winning run in the 10th inning as the No. 16 UCLA baseball team earned a walk-off win in extra innings, 5-4, over Arizona State in the series opener on Friday night from Jackie Robinson Stadium.
UCLA's Kyle Mora (1-1) earned the win throwing a scoreless 10th inning, while starter Jake Bird tossed 7.0 innings allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts.
Offensively, the Bruins were led by Jake Pries with two hits and a run scored, while Daniel Amaral drove in a run and scored once.
Tied 4-4 in the 10th inning, Cuellar would come into the game as a pinch hitter with runners on second and third and rip the second pitch of the at-bat into center field to give the Bruins the walk-off victory. The inning started when RJ Teijeiro drew a one-out walk followed by pinch hitter Jarron Silva hitting a line drive over the second baseman's head for a double.
.@UCLABaseball pinch hitter Kyle Cuellar's walkoff hit is the @OpusBank #12Best Moment! #Pac12BSB pic.twitter.com/gJk1TtiesI
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 24, 2018
UCLA scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning when Amaral and Kevin Kendall executed a double steal but the catcher's throw to third base went into right field allowing both runners to cross home plate.
The Bruins pushed their lead to 4-0 in the next inning when Amaral dropped down a bunt single allowing Pries to score but another ASU throwing error brought Will McInerny all the way around from first base to score.
Arizona State made it a one-run game in the seventh inning by scoring three runs. Spencer Torkelson began the inning with a solo home run to left field. Later in the frame, pinch hitter Hunter Bishop drove in a run with a single to center field, followed by Alika Williams hitting a RBI-single to right field to make the score 4-3.
The Sun Devils tied the game in the eighth inning when Torkelson lifted a fly ball to center field to bring in Gage Canning with a sacrifice fly.
ASU's Chaz Montoya suffered the loss allowing one run on three hits in 2.1 innings in relief and starter Sam Romero allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits in 1.1 innings of work. Brady Corrigan threw 5.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen allowing just one hit with five strikeouts.
UCLA (14-4, 4-0) scored five runs on eight hits with two errors, while Arizona State (11-11, 3-1) ended the game with four runs on seven hits with four errors.
The second game of this three-game Pac-12 series will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT from Jackie Robinson Stadium. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
Game Notes: This was the first extra-inning game for the Bruins this season … Kyle Cuellar recorded his first RBI since Feb. 23 against Baylor … Jake Bird tied a career-high throwing seven innings … Daniel Amaral drove in his eighth run of the year … Kyle Mora recorded his first career win … Jake Pries tallied his second multi-hit game of the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mora, Kyle (1-1)
L: Montoya,Chaz (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Torkelson,Spencer 1
RBI: Torkelson,Spencer 2 ; Bishop,Hunter 1 ; Williams, Alika 1
SF: Torkelson,Spencer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Canning,Gage 1 ; Torkelson,Spencer 1 ; Aldrete,Carter 1 ; Bishop,Hunter 1
SB: Bishop,Hunter 1 ; Williams, Alika 1
CS: Swift,Drew 1
HBP: Swift,Drew 1
PO: Williams, Alika 1
Batting:
2B: Silva, Jarron 1
RBI: Amaral, Daniel 1 ; Cuellar, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Amaral, Daniel 1 ; Kendall, Kevin 1 ; Teijeiro, RJ 1 ; Pries, Jake 1 ; McInerny, Will 1
SB: Amaral, Daniel 1 ; Kendall, Kevin 2
HBP: Pries, Jake 1
