Arizona State defeats UCLA, 5-1

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The showdown between highly ranked UCLA and Arizona State lived up to its billing for seven innings before the Sun Devils exploded for four eighth-inning runs on the way to a 5-1 victory Friday evening at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

UCLA’s bullpen, typically a strength, failed to preserve a 1-1 tie after Kole Calhoun doubled off Bruins starter Gerrit Cole to lead off the eighth. Erik Goeddel retired one of two batters before Arizona State’s Johnny Ruettiger delivered the decisive blow, a two-run triple off reliever Matt Grace.

Arizona State, ranked No. 3 in the nation by Baseball America, improves to 36-5 overall and 12-4 in the Pacific 10 Conference. No. 5 UCLA falls to 30-8 and 7-6.

UCLA’s offense was awful, stranding six runners and going 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. The Bruins scored their only run when Dean Espy grounded into a double play in the second inning.

The Bruins will try to tie the series at 2 p.m. Saturday when Trevor Bauer (6-2) faces Arizona State’s Merrill Kelly (8-0).

--Ben Bolch