Montgomery blasts 17th home run as No. 3 A&M drubs Texas State

Game #29: No. 3 Texas A&M 12, Texas State 2 (7 innings)
Records: No. 3 Texas A&M (26-3, 6-3), Texas State (15-14, 4-5)
WP: Zane Badmaev (2-0)
LP: Tony Robie (2-2)
Box Score

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Not that anyone needed more evidence, but Braden Montgomery is really, really good at baseball.

The All-American put forth another Golden Spikes-worthy performance in No. 3 Texas A&M's 12-2 seven-inning beatdown of Texas State at Bobcat Ballpark on Tuesday night.

Fresh off being named the SEC's Player of the Week for his performance vs. Auburn, Montgomery did not pull any punches on the Bobcats, going 2-for-4 and driving in four.

"It meant a lot," he said of the honor. "That was my first time ever getting weekly honors as far as conference player of the week goes.

"It was super cool, but like I said, it's not like I looked at it being a good total week. It was more of just handling each pitch by pitch, and I think I did that really well last week, and so hopefully I can carry it into every day."

Montgomery clearly carried it into Tuesday.

His first-inning, opposite-field two-run homer to left set the tone for the Bobcat bludgeoning.

That blast — A&M's only of the night — sliced through a windy sky as gusts approached 30 mph directly in from center field.

As per usual, the elements never phased No. 6.

"It's tough, but that's why we just focus on the process," Montgomery said. "If we can just put our best swing on and execute our plan of swinging at strikes and taking balls, then whatever the elements have for us, we'll just have to deal with them."

He added two more RBIs on a double in the fourth. By that point, A&M led 6-1.

The Aggies didn't stop there.

In fact, A&M scored in every inning except the second and seventh, posting an emphatic five-run fifth to run away.

Of their 13 hits, eight went for extra base hits.

Along with Montgomery's pair, Hayden Schott had a double and a triple as Gavin Grahovac, Jackson Appel and Ryan Targac added two-baggers. Caden Sorrell's RBI triple in the sixth concluded A&M's offensive onslaught.

"It was unbelievable," Montgomery said of A&M's output. "I love seeing our hitters come alive like that today because we know what we're capable of. We can do that every day.

"It felt good to see everybody execute our plan the right way, and that's what happens when we do."

The seemingly endless run support allowed Luke Jackson, Zane Badmaev, Isaac Morton and Brock Peery to work with relative ease.

August Ramirez's second-inning blast was Texas State's only earned run as Aaron Lugo scored an unearned marker in the sixth.

Neither Bobcat runs seemed to rattle the visiting Aggies.

And in the annihilation, Montgomery headlined the constant celebration.

Kelii Horvath, TexAgs

Five different Aggies recorded at least two hits on Tuesday. Grahovac and Montgomery each posted their team-leading 14th multi-hit game.

He now has 17 home runs to rank second nationally.

He has driven in 51 to pace the country.

Further, Montgomery has six round-trippers in his last six games, including five in four.

Beyond this unbelievable tear, he has been a consistent threat to opposing pitching.

"I wouldn't say I give much thought to it. I'd say it's just been a whole lot of fun," Montgomery said with a smile. "When I think back and look back on the games we've been playing recently, I've just been really enjoying myself and just smiling and enjoying being with the guys."

By adding Bobcat Ballpark to the list, A&M has now played in five ballparks this year. Montgomery has homered in each.

Florida's Condron Family Ballpark is the only one he did not jump in his first at-bat of his visit.

"I'd say just keeping it simple," Montgomery said of his approach. "Make sure you're taking a deep breath and make sure that my focus is on the task at hand, which is putting a good swing on a strike.

"That's what has really been the difference: Being able to eliminate everything else and focus on what I need to focus on."

Simply put: Montgomery is good at baseball.

Ridiculously good.

Enjoy him while you can, Aggies.

He'll be going yard as a professional very, very soon.