• Box Score
  

UCLA has now won four straight games and seven of the last nine, improving to 32-22 overall and 14-5 in the Pac-10. Arizona falls to 22-26 overall, 7-12 in league action.

Karp (9-1) retired the first 15 Wildcats to come to the plate over five innings, including five via strikeout. He did not allow a base runner until Arizona left-fielder Kenny Huff singled to lead off the sixth, but after striking out second baseman Trevor Mote, got catcher Mike Meyer to ground into a double play to end the inning.

A pitcher's duel between Karp and Arizona starter Ben Diggins ensued over the first six innings. Diggins came out on fire, striking out five of the first seven UCLA batters, including the first three. UCLA freshman designated hitter Jim Hemming had the first hit off Diggins in the second inning, a solo home run to right field to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

The Bruins were held without a hit until a two-out triple by junior second baseman Chase Utley in the bottom of the fifth, who later scored on a single up the middle by junior first baseman Garrett Atkins. After giving up his fifth walk of the game and another single to sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley in the sixth, Diggins was pulled at the conclusion of the inning. Diggins (9-4) suffered the loss, allowing the two runs on four hits, while striking out 10.

UCLA extended its lead to 5-0 on a three-run home run by junior catcher Forrest Johnson in the seventh off Arizona reliever Tony Milo, his 20th long ball of the season. But Arizona eventually avoided the shutout, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth. After a walk and a hit batter by Karp, Mote singled through the left side of the infield to score third baseman Erik Torres.

Karp then loaded the bases with a walk to Meyer, and the Bruins went to junior left-hander Ryan Carter who surrendered back-to-back singles by center fielder Troy Gingrich and shortstop Keoni DeRenne as Arizona made it a two-run ballgame. But with the bases still loaded, Carter got pinch-hitter Matt Abram to foul out to Atkins at first base and struck out Arizona's clean-up batter Ernie Durazo to end the inning.

Carter picked up his fourth save of the season for the Bruins. Johnson and Atkins both extended their season-high hitting streaks to 14 games, while Arizona's Gingrich extended his hit streak to 16 games. With Utley's strikeout in the first inning, his streak of eighth consecutive hits was snapped dating back to last Sunday's game vs. Cal.

With Johnson's home run, the Bruins become the first team in the NCAA this season to have two players with 20 home runs, as junior left-fielder Bill Scott has 21 on the year.

The series with Arizona continues tomorrow at Jackie Robinson Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Junior left-hander Rob Henkel is the probable for UCLA, while senior left-hander Rob Shabansky will take the mound for the Wildcats. UCLA utility man Aldo Pinto will be honored before the game as a part of Senior Day festivities tomorrow as well.

Arizona        000  000  030       3     5    0
UCLA           010  010  30x       5     5    0

WP - Josh Karp (9-1).  LP - Ben Diggins (9-4).  Save - Ryan Carter (4).
2B - Rob Shabansky.  3B - Chase Utley
HR - Forrest Johnson (20); Jim Hemming (5).
SB - Chase Utley; Freddie Mitchell.
Start: 1:09 p.m.    Time: 2:36     Attendance:  581