It took Roman Martin 24 games for him to hit his first home run of 2025.

But the sophomore third baseman had hit five over his previous 14 contests heading into Saturday.

And after launching a third-inning homer Friday, Martin picked up right where he left off.

The third baseman’s second-inning grand slam capped off a seven-run frame that propelled No. 15 seed UCLA baseball (44-16, 22-8 Big Ten) to a 11-5 trampling of Arizona State (36-23, 18-12 Big 12) on Saturday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Bruins scored first for the second-straight affair, moving to 24-1 when doing so this season.

“Just sticking to the approach that we determined before the game, and just bearing down with two strikes as a team,” said sophomore catcher Cashel Dugger, who finished Saturday 2-for-5. “We did get that all year, so just sticking to that and giving our best.”

Redshirt sophomore center fielder Payton Brennan got the scoring started in the second, tripling to the right field corner – and scoring one – before coming home after the second baseman overthrew third. 

The Bruins drove Sun Devils’ right-hander Jack Martinez out of the game after just 1.2 innings, tagging him for seven earned runs off five hits and two walks. Arizona State sent five pitchers to the mound Saturday, with the staff allowing 12 hits, walking five and plunking three.

Sophomore right hander Landon Stump – the usual Sunday starter – threw three-plus innings, surrendering two runs. Redshirt junior southpaw Ian May – amid his second stint as a reliever this season – came out of the bullpen for the second straight game, tossing five-plus innings where he allowed just three hits, two walks and struck out three before being charged with two runs in the ninth. 

“I don’t think we’d be where we are tonight without Ian throwing strikes,” said coach John Savage. “That’s a very difficult lineup to get through and Ian did a nice job.” 

With all nine batters reaching base Saturday, the Bruins continued to pass the baton down the lineup, recording double-digit hits for the second game in a row and maintaining at least a seven-run lead from the third inning on. 

“You got to love those innings right? Your team working for you putting runs on the board for you,” May said. “Anything that takes some stress off me on the mound – so I love those long innings.”

The Sun Devils would score in the seventh, after May’s errant pickoff throw to first allowed center fielder Isaiah Jackson to trot home from third, but Arizona State would muster little else until the final frame.

Inheriting runners on first and second, freshman right-hander Easton Hawk came in to close the game despite an eight-run lead. After back-to-back strikeouts, catcher Brody Briggs drove in the pair with a double down the left field line. But Hawk shut the door on his next pitch, getting second baseman Kyle Walker to fly out.

The Bruins move to a win away from their first super regional since 2019. UCLA will face either UC Irvine or rematch against Arizona State on Sunday at 7 p.m. and play tomorrow’s opponent again Monday, if needed.

And after two regional contests, the Bruins have yet to deploy freshman right-hander Wylan Moss, an All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection, or sophomore right-hander Cal Randall, who hasn’t been charged with a run since May 11.

Savage added that May is his only arm unavailable for Sunday’s contest.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” Savage said.