PHOENIX, Ariz. – No. 1 UCLA was edged in a back-and-forth series finale on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, as No. 16 Arizona State salvaged its weekend with an 8-7 victory.
The game featured momentum swings for both teams, as the Bruins (37-8, 16-5 Pac-12) scored seven unanswered run after falling behind 4-0 early. However, ASU (33-12, 14-10) surged back ahead with a three-spot in the eighth, taking the lead for good on a Carter Aldrete RBI single.
Junior second baseman Chase Strumpf and freshman catcher Noah Cardenas each had three-hit days for the Bruins. Strumpf extended his team-best reached-base streak to 36 games with his offensive performance. Meanwhile, Cardenas singled in his first three plate appearances, giving him eight consecutive hits dating back to his career-best 5-5 line on Saturday against the Sun Devils.
The Bruins had previously claimed the series via a 3-2 win on Friday and an 18-3 rout on Saturday, giving the squad its 11th consecutive series win to start the year. At 37-8, the Bruins maintain the best record through 45 games in program history.
Right after falling behind 4-0 thanks to a first inning grand slam from Hunter Bishop, the Bruins went into counter-attack mode, plating three runs in the second and eventually scoring seven unanswered.
In the second, the Bruins loaded the bases on two walks and an infield single, then opened the scoring on the first of four ASU errors on the day. Cardenas followed with an infield single to bring in another run, then Garrett Mitchell capped the rally by working a bases-loaded walk.
UCLA knotted the game at 4-4 with a Jake Hirabayashi sac fly in the fifth, plating Strumpf who had singled to open the frame.
The Bruins then posted another three-spot in the sixth to take their first lead of the game. UCLA received some help in the inning, as ASU pitcher Blake Burzell threw wide of first base while trying to field a sacrifice bunt, which allowed Cardenas to score from second base. UCLA went on to cash in both of its remaining baserunners with an RBI single to left from Strumpf and a run-scoring double play ball.
ASU began its comeback with a solo homer from Gage Workman in the sixth, then took the lead for good with a three-run eighth. Spencer Torkelson led off that frame with a solo homer, Workman eventually tied it with a sac fly to deep left, and Aldrete singled to the right-center gap to plate the game-winning run.
UCLA starter Jesse Bergin received a no-decision after allowing four earned over five innings.
He was lights out after allowing Bishop's first inning grand slam, limiting the Sun Devils to one hit over the remainder of his outing. He struck out six and posted 1-2-3 innings in the third and fifth.
UCLA returns to action on Tuesday night, hosting Long Beach State for a midweek game starting at 6:00 p.m.