In an era of the transfer portal and Name, Image and Likeness, the deep-pocketed SEC has headlined college baseball with its wealth of talent.
Rightfully so considering that the conference has produced the last six national champions.
Yet, despite deviating from typical rosters, the Bruins thrashed college baseball’s best conference.
No. 1 UCLA baseball (9-2) swept three SEC powerhouses in its first road series of the year, besting then-No. 20 Tennessee (8-3) 12-5 Friday, run-ruling then-No. 23 Texas A&M (10-1) 11-1 in seven innings Saturday, before closing the weekend with an 8-7 back-and-forth extra-inning victory over No. 4 Mississippi State (11-1) on Sunday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
“If you want to go anywhere, you have to go through that league a lot of times,” said coach John Savage following the win over the Aggies. “LSU and Arkansas both got us in the (Men’s College) World Series last year. … It’s a good opportunity to play against really good teams.”
A program widely recognized for its homegrown talent in an era of transfer-heavy rosters, UCLA received massive contributions this weekend from its two premier portal additions.
On Friday, junior right-hander Logan Reddemann – a transfer from the University of San Diego – held the Volunteers scoreless through the first five frames, inducing eight swing-and-misses on his changeup en route to seven strikeouts. His fastball consistently sat around 94-95 mph with a 72% strike rate.
A home run, walk and single to start the sixth inning ended his evening, and both inherited runners would score after his exit.
“Reddemann was very good through the first five innings,” Savage said. “His line doesn’t really show how dominant he was, obviously giving up three runs into the sixth inning. … He’s moving his fastball very well. … It’s a really good armspeed changeup. That’s a hard combo, and he’s got three good breaking balls, too. He’s got a lot of complimentary pitches that help the other pitches.”
Junior center fielder Will Gasparino – a Texas transfer – left an equally sized stamp on the 12-5 victory. He blasted two home runs, both over 425 feet, the first of which jump-started a pivotal six-run seventh inning. Fellow juniors third baseman Roman Martin, first baseman Mulivai Levu and right fielder Payton Brennan also sent balls beyond the Major League walls of Globe Life Park.
Gasparino launched a home run in each of Saturday and Sunday’s victories. While rounding third base after taking Texas A&M deep, the Los Angeles local took a long stare at the Aggie bench.
“I don’t go to Texas anymore, but I still don’t like those guys,” Gasparino said to Tyler Shaw following the win over the Aggies.
Armed with a new swing this year, which Savage attributed to tedious work with assistant coach Bryant Ward, Gasparino totaled four bombs over the weekend with an average exit velocity of 108.5 mph and distance of 426 feet, tying him for the nation’s lead in home runs with 10.
“I actually have some rhythm and some adjustability to pitches now,” Gasparino said. “I have a load, so it’s kind of a full new swing from the last two years. I feel free, finally. Mechanically, I can do what I want.”
The homegrown talent stood out, too.
Senior right-hander Michael Barnett held the Aggies to just one run over five innings with four strikeouts — the same statline as his first two starts. The pitching staff’s captain allowed just one hit, riding his changeup for six swing-and-misses and a strong performance from the defense behind him.
“Nine on one is so true for this team,” Barnett said following the win over Texas A&M. “Every one of our guys is a plus defender. It gives all of our pitchers freedom to attack the zone and be themselves at the end of the day.”
After blowout victories Friday and Saturday, things weren’t so smooth Sunday.
Despite Gasparino’s two-run homer to begin the scoring, UCLA would trail 5-3 with a runner on first base, down to their final out.
Junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky resurrected the Bruins, barreling a hanging cutter 105.5 mph over the left field wall to tie the game.
“That was an instant classic,” Savage said to Baseball America’s Jacob Rudner following the win over Mississippi State. “We were down, then we’re up, then we’re down and then we’re down to the last out and you got your shortstop doing some remarkable things. I’ve seen it before, but that was special.”
Sophomore right-hander Easton Hawk evaded a leadoff single and double in the bottom of the ninth, inducing consecutive strikeouts to send UCLA to extra innings.
Mississippi State righty Ben Davis handed out two free passes in the tenth, walking redshirt junior right fielder Payton Brennan and hitting freshman second baseman Aiden Aguayo. After a groundout advanced the runners to second and third, the Bulldogs intentionally walked Gasparino.
Ward and Savage opted for redshirt sophomore Aidan Espinoza off the bench with the bases loaded, and the decision paid off. He laced a 103 mph line drive into right-center field, clearing the bases with a crucial triple.
A leadoff double and home run would give Hawk trouble in the bottom of the tenth, but the right-hander struck out two before a weak line drive to Martin sealed the victory.
With the Big Ten slate beginning next weekend against Ohio State, UCLA will end pre-conference play with six ranked wins – three against some of the SEC’s finest, some of whom will likely be rematches come playoff time
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