The Arizona State baseball team lost its first Pac-12 series of the season, losing two of three to the UCLA Bruins over the weekend in Los Angeles. The Sun Devils return to Tempe with a 12-7 overall record this season and are 1-2 in Pac-12 play.
The weekend started well for the Sun Devils on Friday as they jumped out to an early five-run lead in the fifth inning, courtesy of a three-run home run by Trever Allen and a two-run triple by Deven Marrero.
Junior Brady Rodgers threw eight innings on Friday, Rodgers allowed only one baserunner through the first five innings, before giving up five runs in the sixth.
The game was tied at five going into the bottom of the ninth when UCLA second baseman Kevin Williams hit a solo home run with two outs. Jake Barrett took his second loss of the season and David Berg picked up the victory for the Bruins.
The teams were forced to play a doubleheader on Sunday after rain cancelled their matchup on Saturday. ASU defeated UCLA 4-3 in the front end of the doubleheader. Senior Abe Ruiz homered in the fourth and sixth innings and Joey DeMichele added a solo home run of his own to pace the Sun Devils to the victory. Trevor Williams (5-0) picked up his fifth straight victory on Sunday.
The Sun Devils did not fair so well second game of the doubleheader, as UCLA defeated ASU 4-2 to take the series. The Bruins scored three runs in the bottom of the second and never looked back. Grant Watson (5-0) led UCLA to the victory, pitching six innings, Scott Griggs picked up his fifth save on the season after pitching a perfect ninth inning.
Abe Ruiz finished the three-game series with three hits, three RBI, two home runs and three runs scored.
The Sun Devils return to home as they host UNLV Wednesday at Packard Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard on KDUS 1060 AM The Fan with Tim Healey and Seth Dhaenens.