News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 4 Texas A&M baseball team (23-3, 4-3) claimed the series opener against No. 21 Auburn (16-9, 1-6), 9-7, Thursday night from Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Evan Aschenbeck improved to 4-0 on the year after tossing four innings of one-run baseball in relief. The senior also struck out a game-high five batters on the night. Starter Ryan Prager earned a no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Gavin Grahovac led the offensive attack with a 3-for-5 performance at the dish to go along with an RBI and a run scored. The three-hit performance marked the third of the year for the freshman. Jace LaViolette (2-for-4) and Hayden Schott (2-for-3) rounded out the multi-hit performers for the Maroon & White on the night.
Braden Montgomery put the Aggies on the board in the opening frame with his team-leading 13th home run that cleared Section 12 in right center. The long ball traveled 413 feet and plated Grahovac, who reached on a leadoff single.
After the Maroon & White added to the lead in the third on a sac fly from Jackson Appel, the Tigers evened the score with a three-run homer in the top half of the fourth.
The Aggies responded with a crooked number of their own in the bottom half of the frame, plating three runs to jump back in front 6-3. Schott opened the inning with a solo shot to right center, while Grahovac and LaViolette added to the lead with a pair of RBI singles. For Schott, the homer was his third of the year.
Auburn evened the score, 6-6, in the sixth courtesy of another three-run frame. A pair of Texas A&M errors fueled the crooked number for the Tigers.
Once again, the Aggies answered quickly as they pushed across three runs in the bottom half of the sixth without recording a hit. The Maroon & White drew three walks and two hit-by-pitches as Appel, Ted Burton and Schott accounted for all three RBI in the frame.
A solo homer from the Tigers in the seventh marked the final run of the night as Texas A&M went on to win 9-7.
Inside the Box Score
Texas A&M totaled nine hits and drew five walks in the win.
Grahovac registered a game-high tying three hits.
Appel, Montgomery and Schott each registered two RBI in the victory.
Burton swiped his seventh base of the season in the win.
As a staff, the Maroon & White struck out eight batters.
Chris Cortez and Josh Stewart each made an appearance in relief for the Aggies.
Notes
With the win, Texas A&M improved to 18-15 all-time against Auburn.
At home, the Aggies are now 10-6 against the Tigers.
Grahovac has now reached base safely in 15 straight contests.
The multi-hit performance marked the team-high tying 11th of the year for the freshman.
Appel extended his on-base streak to 11 games.
Ali Camarillo has now reached base safely in 10 straight contests after a 1-for-3 performance.
Up Next
The Maroon & White will look to clinch the series against Auburn tomorrow night at 6 p.m. from Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Quotes
Postgame interviews are available on https://12thman.com/watch.