Arizona State University (ASU) and UCLA Baseball: A Storied History and Recent Matchups

The Arizona State University (ASU) Sun Devils and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins have a rich history in college baseball, marked by intense competition and memorable moments. This article delves into aspects of their rivalry, recent game performances, and historical context.

A Storied Rivalry: ASU vs. Arizona

Before diving into the ASU-UCLA matchups, it's important to acknowledge the prominent rivalry between ASU and the University of Arizona (UA). This rivalry is one of the most storied in college baseball, with both programs boasting impressive accolades. Together, they have a combined 9 College World Series championships, 40 College World Series appearances, 82 NCAA tournament appearances, and 27 conference regular-season championships.

While both teams had baseball programs earlier in the century, the rivalry truly ignited in the 1950s. Before Arizona State established its varsity baseball program in 1959, Arizona dominated with a record of 115-18. However, the arrival of Bobby Winkles changed the landscape dramatically. By 1965, ASU had significantly increased its wins against Arizona, made two College World Series appearances, and secured its first College World Series championship, a feat Arizona had yet to achieve despite seven appearances.

The rivalry intensified further under the leadership of Jim Brock and Jerry Kindall. The teams reached their peak prominence in the 1970s and early 1980s, winning College World Series titles back-to-back in 1976-77 and 1980-81. A pivotal moment was the 1976 College World Series semi-final, where Arizona defeated Arizona State 5-1, advancing to the title game and ending ASU's season.

Home Field History

Arizona's home field evolved over the years, starting with UA Field (1929-1966), then Wildcat Field (later Frank Sancet Stadium, then Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium) from 1967 to 2011, and finally Hi Corbett Field from 2012 to the present. Similarly, ASU's home field journeyed from Goodwin Stadium (1959-1963) to Phoenix Municipal Stadium (1964-1973), then Packard Stadium (1974-2014), before returning to Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2015.

Conference Affiliations

The Wildcats and Sun Devils have been conference rivals since 1931, starting with the Border Conference (1931-1962), followed by the Western Athletic Conference (1962-1978), the Pacific-10 (later Pac-12) Conference (1978-2024), and, from 2025 onward, the Big 12 Conference.

Recent ASU vs. UCLA Games and Performances

In a recent game, the Sun Devils faced off against the UCLA Bruins, with UCLA ultimately securing an 11-5 victory in the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA baseball tournament.

Key Moments in the Game

Early Bruins Lead: UCLA quickly established a commanding lead, with AJ Salgado scoring the opening run, followed by Payton Brennan. Roman Martin then delivered a grand slam in the second inning, driving in Mulivai Levu, Roch Cholowsky, and Dean West, extending the Bruins' lead to 7-0.
Sun Devils' Response: The Sun Devils responded with a run in the bottom of the second and another in the fourth, attempting to narrow the deficit.
UCLA's Bullpen Strength: Ian May's performance out of the bullpen proved crucial for UCLA. He entered the game in the fourth inning and pitched effectively, giving up three runs in five innings while protecting UCLA’s lead.
Offensive Struggles: Outside of a solo home run by Jacob Tobias in the sixth inning, the Sun Devils struggled to advance runners beyond second base, managing only three hits after the fourth inning.
Tobias' Performance: Jacob Tobias was a standout performer for the Sun Devils, going 4-for-4 with a home run. His home run marked his 38th career homer, tying him for 10th all-time in Sun Devil history.

Individual Player Highlights

Jacob Tobias: Tobias was the primary offensive force for ASU in a particular game, recording four of the team's six hits, including a solo home run. In another game, Tobias launched a two-RBI double.
Easton Barrett: Barrett made his first career start, showing promise despite some challenges in the second inning.
Dustin Pedroia: Sophomore shortstop Dustin Pedroia has been a key player for ASU, leading the Pac-10 in hits and doubles. He was also named to the initial watch list for the 2003 Golden Spikes Award.
Jeff Larish: Sophomore first baseman Jeff Larish has been a strong offensive player, leading the conference in RBI and walks. He has also hit three grand slams this year.
Erik Averill: Freshman left-handed pitcher Erik Averill has had a strong start to his college career, ranking high in the Pac-10 in wins and ERA.
Travis Buck: Freshman outfielder Travis Buck had a standout performance against Southern Utah, hitting for the cycle and earning Pac-10 Player of the Week honors.

Pitching and Defense

ASU's pitching staff showcased its dominance in a series against the California Golden Bears, allowing only four runs (three earned) and recording a 1.00 ERA. The team also excelled defensively, turning six double plays and committing only two errors in the series.

Historical Context and Team Statistics

Winning Streaks: Arizona State's 28-1 start to the 2003 season was the best in school history. They had an 11-game winning streak to start the season and a 19-game win streak later on.
Home Run Power: Through 45 games of the 2003 season, the Sun Devils surpassed their entire season total from 2002 with 49 home runs.
Consecutive Games Scoring: The Arizona State baseball program has scored in an NCAA record 478 consecutive games dating back to the 1995 season.
Rankings: The Sun Devils have consistently been ranked in the national polls and spent two weeks at No. 1 during the 2003 season.

Notable Individual Achievements (2003 Season)

Several Sun Devils achieved significant milestones during the 2003 season:

Dustin Pedroia: Ranked third in the Pac-10 in hitting (.418) with 25 doubles and 34 RBI.
Jeff Larish: Hit .378 with 13 home runs and led the conference with 67 RBI.
Erik Averill: Tied for ninth in ASU freshman history with six wins and fourth in ERA (2.75).
Travis Buck: Hit for the cycle in a game against Southern Utah.
Ryan Schroyer: Had a 0.98 ERA with seven saves as a junior closer.

Last Year vs. UCLA

The Sun Devils took two of three games in the series held at Jackie Robinson Stadium. ASU won the opener 4-3 in 11 innings, lost the second game 10-2, and rebounded with a 15-2 victory in the series finale. Steve Garrabrants had a bases-loaded triple in the series finale.

Read also: Classic LSU-UCLA Baseball Matchups

Averill Brothers

The series between the Sun Devils and Bruins featured brothers Brandon Averill (UCLA) and Erik Averill (ASU) facing off at the collegiate level. Erik was leading the Pac-10 in wins (7-0) with a 2.75 ERA, while Brandon was hitting .275 with six home runs for the Bruins.

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