Even before UCLA’s Kyle Cuellar belted a three-run blast to put the Bruins up four runs in the first inning, it was clear that ASU starting pitcher Tyler Thornton just didn’t have it Friday night. The right-hander labored through the game’s first five batters, working through deep counts and frequently missing badly with his off speed pitches.
By the time Cuellar dug into the box, Thornton was firmly on the ropes. Cuellar jumped all over a fastball up in the zone and deposited it beyond the right center field wall. It was just the first of a series of blows in UCLA’s 21-9 (33-18, 16-12 Pac-12) rout of Arizona State (32-18, 16-12) at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.