News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
HOOVER – Behind a stellar outing from Ryan Prager, the Texas A&M baseball team rolled past Mississippi State (34-21), 9-0, in the opening round of the SEC Tournament Wednesday morning at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
On short rest, Prager (4-4) delivered 5 1/3 scoreless innings to go along with six strikeouts. In relief, Clayton Freshcorn, Brad Rudis and Gavin Lyons finished off the Aggies’ (29-25) fifth shutout of the season with scoreless appearances.
Four different Maroon & White batters recorded a multi-hit performance on the afternoon in Sawyer Farr (2-for-4), Bear Harrison (2-for-5), Terrence Kiel II (2-for-3) and Ben Royo (2-for-5). Jace LaViolette topped the offense with four RBI, while Farr and Kaeden Kent each followed with two.
Texas A&M opened the scoring in the second behind an RBI single from Royo that plated Harrison, who started the frame with a double. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Kaeden Kent made it 2-0 with an RBI hit-by-pitch. LaViolette followed with his third grand slam of the season to the porch in right as the lead ballooned to 6-0.
The long ball marked the 18th of the year for the Aggie center fielder and the team’s SEC-leading 11th grand slam of the season.
In the third, Texas A&M tacked on two more runs courtesy of an RBI groundout from Farr and a sacrifice fly from Kent.
Farr made the final tally 9-0 in the seventh as the freshman plated Kiel, who reached on a two-out double, with an RBI single to left center.
Inside the Box Score
- Texas A&M racked up 10 hits and drew four walks in the win.
- Four different Aggies recorded a multi-hit performance.
- Six different batters recorded a hit and scored a run for the Maroon & White.
- LaViolette led the team with four RBI, while Farr and Kent followed with two.
- Kiel crossed the plate a team-best three times, while Royo scored twice.
- Gavin Kash drew a team-high two walks.
- As a staff, Texas A&M struck out seven batters.
- Freshcorn tossed 1 2/3 scoreless frames.
- Rudis and Lyons each recorded a scoreless inning.
Game Notes
- Wednesday’s game marked the 50th meeting all-time between the clubs.
- With the win, the Aggies are now 27-23 against the Bulldogs.
- Texas A&M improved to 19-14 all-time in the SEC Tournament and 7-4 in opening round games.
- The shutout marked the Maroon & White’s fifth of the season and the program’s sixth at the SEC Tournament.
- LaViolette’s grand slam marked his third of the season, which is tied for the most in the SEC, and fourth of his career.
- The junior also registered the 200th RBI of his career in the win, which ranks fourth all-time in program history.
- The grand slam was the Aggies’ 11th of the year, which leads the SEC.
- LaViolette’s multi-RBI game was his team-leading 18th of the season.
- Harrison’s multi-hit game was his eighth of the year.
- Royo logged his 10th multi-hit performance of the season.
- Kiel’s multi-hit game marked his 17th of the year.
- Farr picked up his second multi-hit contest of the season and the first multi-RBI performance of his career.
Up Next
The Aggies will face No. 8 Auburn in the second round of the SEC Tournament Thursday morning at 11 a.m. at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
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