News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – For the second time in the last three seasons and 10th time in program history, the No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team is headed to an NCAA Super Regional after defeating Louisiana, 9-4, in the Bryan-College Station Regional Final Sunday evening from Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Shane Sdao improved to 5-1 on the year after holding the Ragin’ Cajuns (42-20) to one run over 5.1 innings of work. The lefty also struck out six and did not issue a walk on the night. In relief, Chris Cortez punched out six of the eight batters he faced in 2.2 scoreless frames.
On the offensive end, the Aggies (47-13) slugged four home runs and racked up 13 hits in the win. The four homers upped the Maroon & White’s season total to 129, which is the most all-time in program history. Braden Montgomery, who was named the Most Outstanding player of the regional, led the charge as the junior went 2-for-6 on the night with a game-best four RBI. Jackson Appel, Jace LaViolette and Travis Chestnut rounded out the remaining multi-hit performers for Texas A&M.
The Aggies struck first in the third courtesy of an RBI single from Montgomery that plated Chestnut, who reached on a leadoff walk.
In the bottom half of the frame, Louisiana answered with a run of their own behind a pair of doubles.
Caden Sorrell put the Maroon & White back in front in the fourth with a monster solo home run that landed on Wellborn Road in right. The rookie’s 10th homer of the season traveled 430 feet and left the bat at 108 mph. Later in the frame, Montgomery broke the game open with a three-run homer over the Louisiana bullpen in right.
The junior’s long ball marked his 27th of the season and had a distance of 379 feet.
Following a 1-2-3 bottom half of the fourth from Sdao, Hayden Schott added to the lead with a solo homer to straightaway center. The senior’s long ball marked the team’s 128th of the season, which matched the 1999 squad for the program record.
In the seventh, Ali Camarillo broke the record with an opposite field solo shot to Section 12 in right. The junior’s historic home run traveled 373 feet and was his seventh of the 2024 campaign.
Gavin Grahovac capped off the record-breaking night with his 22nd home run of the season in the ninth, which broke the program’s freshman single-season record that was previously held by LaViolette. The rookie’s two-run opposite field homer to Section 12 extended the lead to 9-1.
Despite allowing three runs in the bottom half of the ninth, Texas A&M went on to win 9-4.
Inside the Box Score
Texas A&M racked up 13 hits and drew eight walks on the night.
Four Aggies recorded multi-hit performances in the win.
Chestnut and Schott each drew a game-best two walks.
Appel and Chestnut each swiped a base in the win.
Chestnut scored a game-high three times on the night.
As a staff, the Maroon & White struck out 13 batters.
Cortez and Sdao combined for 12 of the 13 strikeouts.
Justin Lamkin allowed two runs in a third of an inning out of the bullpen.
Brad Rudis recorded the final two outs of the night and allowed one run.
Game Notes
The NCAA Regional Championship marks the 11th in program history and 10th since 1999.
With the win, the Aggies are headed to their 10th Super Regional in program history.
In Regional play, the Maroon & White are now 81-52 all-time.
In the NCAA Tournament, Texas A&M is now 98-83 all-time and 47-16 at Blue Bell Park.
Sunday’s contest marked the 24th meeting all-time between the two clubs.
With the victory, the Aggies are now 15-9 in the series.
The four home runs pushed the Maroon & White’s season total to 129, which is a new program record.
Grahovac’s 22nd homer of the season is the new Texas A&M single-season freshman record.
LaViolette has reached base safely in 18 straight games.
Montgomery’s multi-hit game marked his team-leading 25th of the season.
The multi-RBI was also his team-high 25th of the year.
NCAA Bryan-College Station Regional All-Tournament Team
C – Jose Torres, Louisiana
1B – Ted Burton – Texas A&M
2B – John Taylor – Louisiana
SS – Kyle DeBarge – Louisiana
3B – Lee Amedee – Louisiana
LF – Caden Sorrell – Texas A&M
CF – Caleb Stelly – Louisiana
RF – Braden Montgomery – Texas A&M
DH – Kimble Schuessler – Texas
P – Shane Sdao – Texas A&M
P – Evan Aschenbeck – Texas A&M
Most Outstanding Player: Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M
Up Next
The Aggies will host Oregon in the NCAA Bryan-College Station Super Regional at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. The dates for the Super Regional are TBD.