ARLINGTON, Texas (KBTX) – The game was already well out of hand when UCLA transfer center fielder Will Gasparino rounded third and headed home in the bottom of the sixth.
In fact, it was that three-run home run that ultimately ended Saturday’s Globe Life Field main event against Texas A&M after seven innings. UCLA, ranked either first or second in most polls, handed the Aggies their first loss of the season in 11-1 run-rule fashion.
The lopsided nature of the game factored little in Gasparino’s mind as he trotted around the bases. He was set on enjoying that moment.
For what seemed like an eternity as the slugger rounded third, he shot a cold, unblinking stare into the Aggie dugout. It was obvious the one-time Texas Longhorn was trying to make a statement.
“I don’t go to Texas anymore, but I still don’t like those guys,” Gasparino said after the game when asked about his home run celebration. Saturday wasn’t the first time sparks have flown between Gasparino and the Aggies.
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Last season, when the Aggies and Longhorns squared off in Austin, former A&M first baseman Gavin Kash verbally clashed with a then-Longhorn Gasparino as Kash jogged off the field after a flyout. Gasparino said something to Kash, which led the Aggie to confront Gasparino. Kash was ultimately ejected from the game and was forced to miss the final game of the series because of a suspension.
After that game, A&M head coach Michael Earley said it was Gasparino who started the incident. It appeared to be a carryover from two seasons prior when Gasparino ran through Kash on a close play at first base while Kash played for Texas Tech.
“My first school was the University of Texas and they took me in and made me feel like home,” Gasparino said after Saturday’s game. “So, I think I owed it to those guys to put [A&M] to sleep early.”
In last year’s Lone Star Showdown series, Gasparino went 1-for-11 against the Aggies with four strikeouts. The Bruin center fielder went 2-for-4 Saturday, adding two runs of his own in the rout of his former rival. UCLA totaled 14 hits in the game to A&M’s two.
“They were relentless up there,” Earley said after Saturday’s game. “Moving balls, two strikes, they played an awesome game. They completely outplayed us on that end and made us make plays and when they got balls to hit, they hammered them.”
Here is the game rundown:
Why did A&M lose? There is a reason UCLA (8-2) sits atop most of the college baseball polls. The Bruins rank eighth in the nation in home runs and 22nd in slugging percentage. Both Gasparino and potential No. 1 overall MLB draft pick Roch Cholowsky lead the nation in home runs with six.
Saturday proved no different for UCLA at the plate.
When Aggie starter Weston Moss left pitches a little too high in the strike zone, the Bruins made him pay. That was especially the case with two strikes. In the Bruins’ first eight hits, five came with two strikes. Two of those hits produced RBIs.
“They completely commit to staying on a baseball with two strikes,” Earley said. “They did an awesome job. That’s a real baseball team.”
UCLA plated four in the first inning, marking the first time this season the Aggies (9-1) had given up runs in the opening frame. Ultimately, that was all UCLA needed.
Aggie designated hitter Jake Duer launched his second home run of the season into the home bullpen in right-center to lead off the top of the second. However, that was one of only two hits the Aggies could muster in the game.
“I never want to get my ass kicked, but at the same time, sometimes you can take something good from it, right?” Earley said of the loss. “You’ve got a choice to make. You can see an example of how it is and go back and see how you played compared to how they play. But, in the end, you’ve got to play better baseball. You win or you lose. We lost. It’s just never acceptable to lose like that.”
Who stood out? Bruin starter Michael Barnett (3-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on one hit in five innings. He struck out four on 78 total pitches. He was replaced by Wylan Moss, who allowed just one hit in two innings of work.
Aggie reliever Gavin Lyons steadied the ship in three innings. UCLA managed one run on five hits against the sidearm pitcher. He struck out a pair.
What was a key stat? UCLA finished with six two-strike hits in the game, accounting for four RBIs.
What’s next? A&M finishes its time in Arlington with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch against Arizona State. Right-hander Aiden Sims (2-0, 1.38 ERA) will make his third start for A&M, opposite Arizona State right-hander Jaden Alba (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
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