No. 7 A&M concludes perfect homestand with 13-2 run-rule of Lamar

Game #8: No. 7 Texas A&M 13, Lamar 2
Records: Texas A&M (8-0), Lamar (5-3)
WP: Weston Moss (1-0)
LP: Peyton Havard (1-2)
Box Score

The perfect eight-game homestand is now complete. 

In the Aggies' final home matchup before traveling to Globe Life Field, Texas A&M run-ruled Lamar in seven innings, 13-2.  

The Maroon & White’s offense has shined all season, and that didn’t stop Tuesday as every Aggie in the starting lineup reached base. 

A&M was led at the plate by none other than last year's Freshman All-American Jace LaViolette, who went 3-for-4, including three RBIs and a home run. 

LaViolette’s sixth home run of the year was a towering solo shot to right field that traveled 342 feet and came off the bat at a 52-degree launch angle. That homer broke an early tie, putting the Aggies ahead 3-2. 

“Luckily, the wind was in my favor tonight,” LaViolette said. “I’ll give that one to the wind. That was special.

“I’ve never hit a ball like that and it be a hit, nonetheless a homer,” LaViolette said. 

In the fifth inning, LaViolette capped off his offensive attack with a bloop single into center field, scoring Gavin Grahovac and Kaeden Kent. 

With a 2-3 order in the lineup that consists of a powerful LaViolette and Braden Montgomery, who entered the game batting .423, opposing pitching would like some room to breathe.

“You’d like to be able to breathe and get on to [Hayden Schott, Jackson Appel and Ted Burton],” Schlossnagle said. “If you do that against Schott, Burton and Appel, with their age and their skill level, they’ll get you.

“We knew that was going to be a strength of our club, but that can’t be what we hang our hat on. It has to be pitching and defense.” 

Lamar received no breathing room as the five and six holes in the order, designated hitter Ted Burton and catcher Jackson Appel, combined for a 5-for-7 night at the plate with five RBIs.  

Burton smashed his second home run of the season to left field, giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead in the second inning. He concluded his day at the plate with an RBI single into center field, plating Montgomery, who reached on a walk. Burton and LaViolette both finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Appel hit his first home run of the 2024 campaign in the third inning — a three-run blast over the right-center field wall that extended A&M’s lead to 6-2. 

The Maroon & White also received a solid performance from its leadoff hitter in Grahovac, who batted 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Grahovac singled up the middle in the fourth and doubled to center field in the fifth, bringing home a run each. 

Despite being the first Aggie starting pitcher to give up a run all season, A&M received another encouraging performance from Chris Cortez.

Cortez followed up a quality start last game, pitching four innings and allowing one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out six batters.  

The hard-throwing right hander got into a jam early as he loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. Luckily for Cortez, he worked a groundout on the Cardinals’ designated hitter Logan Hamm.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Seven of Texas A&M’s 14 hits on Tuesday were for extra bases. The Aggies also drew five walks.

Lamar tied the game in the third after Brayden Evans’ RBI single and Hamm reaching on an error that scored River Orsak. 

“I thought Cortez was really good,” Schlossnagle said. “What I mean by that is, if everything has to be perfect for you to pitch and help us win, that's not going to happen that much. He wasn’t as good as he was last week, but he certainly wasn’t as bad as he has been.

“To me, he looked like a starting pitcher that lost it for a little bit and then circled it back. I thought he did a great job. He will stay right in that spot for now.” 

Out of the bullpen, freshman Weston Moss picked up his first win as he pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning. Freshmen Luke Jackson and Jason Bodin, who made their first appearances, combined to get three outs in the sixth. 

Finishing the game on the mound was Montgomery in his 2024 pitching debut. Montgomery faced the minimum in the seventh inning as he got the first batter to strike out swinging and the next two on a fly out and ground out, respectively. 

“If he throws strikes like that, then he’ll pitch,” Schlossnagle said of Montgomery. “Pretty soon here, we’re not going to have 40 guys here in the dugout. 

“We’re gonna be playing SEC series with 27 eligible players, and a guy like Braden and even Jett Johnston who can do two things, their value is going to be proved when we can only play 27 guys.

As the Aggies venture away from Olsen Field for the first time this season, Schlossnagle says he feels “great” where his team currently stands.

“I think we’re in a good spot,” Schlossnagle said. “I’d like to get [Troy] Wansing back healthy if possible. I’d like to get another lefty in that bullpen, but that’s probably going to have to be [Shane] Sdao for now. Right now, I feel great about where we are.”

A&M will face Arizona State in the first game of the College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Friday at 6 p.m. CT.