With both Swagerty and Blair pitching on Saturday, it is likely that Josh Spence will make his return to the mound on Sunday in the regular season finale. Spence hasn’t pitched since April 25th against California and was ruled out for the season on May 10th. But ASU Head Coach Pat Murphy says his left hander is feeling great and will return to action.
The Devils (43-12, 20-6 Pac 10) got out to a 2-0 lead right away in the first. Drew Maggi walked and came around to score on a double to left center by Matt Newman. Newman then moved up on a balk and scored on a Carlos Ramirez sac fly.
UCLA (27-28, 15-11 Pac 10) got one back against Swagerty in the third. Gabe Cohen singled up the middle with one away and went to third on Niko Gallego’s single to right. After Eddie Murray was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Cohen scored on Gino Aielli’s RBI groundout.
Casey Haerther doubled to center to lead off the fourth and moved to third on Justin Uribe’s groundout.
Swagerty got Tyler Rahmatulla to strike out, but Blair Dunlap’s bunt single scored Haerther and tied the game at 2-2.
The Devils got that run back in the bottom of the 4th, thanks to wildness from UCLA starter Trevor Bauer. Abe Ruiz walked to lead off and moved to second on a wild pitch. Jared McDonald followed with a walk and both runners moved up on Johnny Ruettiger’s groundout. Ruiz then came in to score on another wild pitch to make it 3-2.
The back and forth game swung the way of in the 5th, starting with back to back singles by Eddie Murray and Gino Aielli. Murray then stole third and scored on Cody Decker’s groundout to tie the game at 3-3.
The Bruins took control of the game with a four run seventh off of Blair. After Blair got Uribe to ground back to him, the sophomore walked Rahmatulla and Blair Dunlap reached on an infield single. Blair then walked Cohen to load the bases and Niko Gallego doubled to left to plate a pair and make it 5-3 UCLA. Cohen then scored on a wild pitch and Murray brought in Gallego with a groundout and the Bruins led 7-3.
UCLA blew the game open with three more in the 7th. Casey Haerther doubled home Cody Decker, who reached to start the inning after being hit by Blair and Dunlap would added an RBI single later in the inning.
Blair fell to 6-2 on the season by allowing seven runs in three innings of relief, on just five hits. Swagerty worked four innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. Jake Borup worked the final two innings and didn’t allow a run.
Jason Kipnis was held out of the lineup again with a strained hamstring. Kipnis eventually entered the game in the 8th inning.
Murphy said in his post game that you will see somebody tomorrow that you haven’t seen in awhile, likely Josh Spence in the regular season finale. First pitch is at 1PM at Packard Stadium.