News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 4 Texas A&M baseball team run-ruled No. 2 Arkansas 14-4 in seven innings Saturday afternoon on Senior Day from Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. With the win, the Aggies (44-11, 19-11) clinched the series against the Razorbacks (43-12, 20-10).
Prior to the game, Texas A&M honored its 10 seniors in Brock Peery, Evan Aschenbeck, Hank Bard, Hayden Schott, Jace Hutchins, Jackson Appel, Ryan Targac, Ted Burton, Travis Chestnut and Zane Badmaev for all their contributions to the program.
With two on and two out in the seventh, Number 12 Targac got the call to pinch-hit and arrived to the plate admist a roaring standing ovation from the 12th Man. The senior delivered with an RBI single to left center to seal the series win for the Maroon & White.
Chris Cortez improved to 8-2 on the year after tossing three shutout frames in relief to go along with a career-high tying eight strikeouts. Badmaev followed Cortez with a scoreless inning and a strikeout. Starter Shane Sdao earned a no-decision after allowing four runs over three frames.
Chestnut and Schott logged a pair of three-hit performances for the Aggies, while Caden Sorrell, Gavin Grahovac, Jace LaViolette and Burton registered multiple RBI in the win. LaViolette and Sorrell also recorded multi-hit performances on the afternoon, each finishing 2-for-4 at the plate.
LaViolette gave the Aggies a 2-0 lead in the opening frame as the sophomore lifted a two-run homer over the wall in right. The long ball marked the 28th of the season for the Maroon & White center fielder.
After the Razorbacks cut the deficit in half in the second with a solo shot, Sorrell stretched the Aggie lead to 4-1 in the bottom half with a two-run homer. The freshman’s home run marked his eighth of the season and traveled 359 feet.
Following a game-tying three-run homer from Arkansas in the third, Braden Montgomery quickly put the Maroon & White back in front with a leadoff homer in the bottom half. The junior’s 26th homer of the year traveled 436 feet to the train tracks in right and left the bat at 109 mph.
The Aggies broke the game open in the sixth as six runs came around to score, stretching the advantage to 11-4. After Chestnut and LaViolette scored on a pair of wild pitches, Burton cleared the bases with a three-run double to right center. The senior later came around to score on an RBI single through the right side by Schott.
After Chestnut led off the seventh with an infield single, Grahovac plated the senior with a two-run laser over the wall in left to push the lead to 13-4. With the homer, the freshman upped his season total to 19.
Inside the Box Score
The Aggies totaled 15 hits and drew seven walks in the win.
Chestnut and Schott led all players with three hits apiece on the afternoon.
LaViolette and Sorrell also logged multi-hit performances.
Burton drove in a game-best three RBI.
Grahovac, LaViolette and Sorrell also recorded multiple RBI in the win.
Grahovac also drew a game-best three walks.
Appel recorded a pair of walks in the win.
As a staff, the Maroon & White struck out 12 Razorbacks.
Eight of the nine batters Cortez retired were via the strikeout.
Game Notes
Saturday’s contest marked the 103rd meeting all-time between the two clubs.
With the win, the Aggies are now 52-50-1 against the Razorbacks.
The run-rule victory marked the eighth of the year for Texas A&M.
The Aggies won all eight home series in 2024 and finished with a 32-3 mark at Blue Bell Park.
The weekend attendance total of 22,293 marked the third largest this season and fourth all-time at Olsen Field.
The Maroon & White honored their 10 seniors prior to the game.
LaViolette pushed his on-base streak to 13 games in the win.
The sophomore’s multi-hit game marked his 20th of the year.
Appel has now reached base safely in 12 straight.
Schott recorded his 20th multi-hit game of the season.
Up Next
The Aggies will serve as the No. 4 seed at the 2024 SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama, and begin postseason play on Wednesday, May 22. Stay tuned to 12thman.com for more information.