UCLA Tops Arizona State, 7-5, to Clinch Series

LOS ANGELES – Behind a four-run sixth inning and a strong performance from the bullpen, No. 13 UCLA recorded a series-clinching 7-5 victory over Arizona State on Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

The two teams traded crooked numbers in the decisive sixth inning, with ASU (20-24, 9-11 Pac-12) posting three runs before UCLA (29-13, 13-7) responded with a go-ahead four-spot.

The UCLA pen – pressed into duty in the second inning – combined to allow just two earned runs over 7 2/3 innings.

Strong offensive performances came courtesy of sophomore center fielder Carson Yates (3-4, three runs), freshman shortstop Cody Schrier (2-3, three RBIs), and Ethan Gourson (1-2, two RBIs, two walks).

Tied 2-2 heading into the sixth, ASU looked to have struck a major blow after putting together a three-spot in the sixth. Nate Baez started the charge with a solo home run, and the Sun Devils later took advantage of a UCLA error to bring across a pair of unearned runs.

The Bruins got right back to work in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases on a pair of walks and an opposite field single from Yates. The next batter, Schrier, tied it up with one swing of the bat after sending a 1-0 offering into the right-center field gap for a bases-clearing double.

Graduate first baseman Jake Palmer followed with a two-bagger of his own, bringing in Schrier and putting the Bruins ahead for good.

Freshman closer Alonzo Tredwell made sure that lead held up, as he allowed just a single over 2 2/3 scoreless innings to close out the game and earn his third save of the year.

His most-clutch out came right after he entered the game, as he inherited runners on the corners with one out in the seventh. Leading by just one at that point, Tredwell got ASU's Jacob Tobias to swing through three straight fastballs for a huge strikeout. He then knocked down a comebacker from the next batter and got the out at first to strand the game-tying run on third.

He came up with another big inning-ending strikeout in the eighth – fanning Sean McLain with a runner on second – then finished it out with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Junior right-hander Charles Harrison did the heavy lifting as the first man out of the bullpen, giving up just one earned run on two hits over a career-long 4 1/3 innings. Like Tredwell, his biggest moments came early in his outing as he induced back-to-back popups after inheriting a bases-loaded jam in the second to get UCLA out of the inning without any further damage.

Harrison ultimately retired the first nine batters he faced, and ended his afternoon with three strikeouts.

Freshman righty Luke Jewett picked up the win after coming in and getting the final out of the sixth inning.

UCLA and ASU finish up the weekend series with a 1:00 p.m. PT contest on Sunday.