The Aggies (9-0) are fresh off a run-rule-shortened win Friday over Virginia Tech and prepare to face No. 1 UCLA in Game 2 of their three-game stint at Globe Life Field.
Similarly, the Bruins (7-2) defeated No. 20 Tennessee 12-5 in the game that preceded the Aggies’ and Hokies’ meeting.
UCLA has won both of its weekend series to start the season, but it dropped one game against UC San Diego and then a midweek game against San Diego State last Tuesday.
The Bruins are led by a trio of hitters averaging better than .367, with former Texas Longhorn Will Gasparino leading them in home runs (eight) and RBIs (17).
For the Aggies, injuries have been an issue early in the season. Chris Hacopian had six consecutive games before being reinserted into the lineup Friday. He hit a home run in the first inning, but due to recurring back issues, he exited the game before the sixth inning.
Designated hitter Wesley Jordan has missed the last three games and did not participate in any pregame warm-ups on Friday. Despite that, A&M has continued to win in a variety of ways, but Saturday will be the biggest test it’s faced thus far.
Stay tuned for updates from the action:
A Harrison groundout, Farr flyout and a Kiel II groundout ended the inning 1-2-3.
A one-out single by Martin was followed by a Brennan strikeout, and an Aguayo flyout.
A one-out walk by Duer was followed by a two-out walk by Kellner. Both were squandered as they were left stranded due to a Chestnut swinging strikeout.
Moss’s day is done as A&M turned to Gavin Lyons. A lead-off single was followed by two pop-outs and a two-out single. Lyons hit West to load the bases, but Lyons worked around the jam.
Harrison led off with a swinging strikeout before Farr grounded out to second. Kiel II was hit by a pitch with two outs, leading to Sorrell to ground out to second to end the frame.
A Gasparino single was followed by a Cadiz walk. From there Moss scrapped to two outs, but the Bruins worked the bases loaded before Martin slapped a single up the middle to drive in two runs.
Duer got A&M on the board with a solo blast to right-center field, but that was all the offense it mustered.
The Bruins jumped on Moss early with three consecutive singles that drove in the game’s first run. From there, a sac fly from Brennan brought home another run. Moss then struck out Aguayo before Dugger got thrown out at second trying to leg out a double, but drove in another two runs.
Kiel II led off the game by striking out looking. From there, Sorrell worked a walk before Grahovac flew out to the wall and Sorrell got caught out at first being aggressive on the base path.
Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington
Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at [email protected].
