PHOENIX -- The ninth-ranked Arizona State baseball team dropped its series opener against No. 2 UCLA 9-0 on Friday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Bruins (35-11, 17-5) took an early lead with two runs in the top of the second inning and added seven runs, including a four-run sixth. UCLA starting right-hander James Kaprielian (9-4) tossed seven scoreless innings to pick up the win as he scattered five hits and a walk.
Arizona State trailed by four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and threatened with three singles in the frame. However, a leadoff hit by shortstop Colby Woodmansee was erased as he was picked off at first, and two fly balls stranded third baseman David Greer and right fielder Trever Allen to keep the Sun Devils (29-16, 14-8) off the board.
UCLA third baseman Chris Keck opened the second inning with a double and scored two batters later on a triple from right fielder Kort Peterson, and second baseman Trent Chatterton added a sacrifice fly. Keck led off the fourth inning with a solo home run over the right-field fence to extend UCLA's lead, 3-0.
Starting right-hander Seth Martinez (2-1) retired the first two batters in the top of the sixth inning, but UCLA scored four unearned runs as the Devils made three errors with two outs. Second baseman Andrew Snow dropped a foul ball and left fielder Brett Stephens drove the next pitch up the middle for a RBI single. Greer made a throwing error on the play as he attempted to get Stephens out at second and center fielder Christoph Bono scored from third for the second run of the inning. Shortstop Kevin Kramer followed with a RBI single to right field that slipped underneath the glove of Allen and Kramer came all the way home to put the Bruins ahead, 8-0.
Martinez took his first career loss as he was responsible for six runs, including four earned, on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He was lifted in the sixth inning after he conceded a pair of two-out singles.
Freshman right-hander Ryan Hingst allowed one run on three hits and struck out a pair in 3 1/3 relief innings. He took over with two outs in the sixth inning and induced a groundout on his first pitch, and threw a perfect eighth inning.
