Texas A&M vanquishes Vanderbilt to seal top-10 series victory, 9-0

Game #35: No. 3 Texas A&M 9, No. 6 Vanderbilt 0
Records: Texas A&M (31-4, 10-4), Vanderbilt (26-9, 8-6)
WP: Tanner Jones (3-1)
LP: Carter Holton (5-1)
Box Score

Another dominating performance with a record-breaking crowd on hand. 

In front of 8,075 fans, the most since the 2012 Blue Bell Park renovations, No. 3 Texas A&M outclassed No. 6 Vanderbilt 9-0 to claim the top-10 series victory.

Though not a run-rule, Saturday’s game felt like a continuation of Game 1.

The Aggies’ starting pitcher dazzled, and the offense got off to a fast start.

Tanner Jones started on the mound and tossed 7.1 innings, allowing no runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five.

“Today we got his cutter, slider and decent changeup and he had really good life to his fastball,” A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. 

It was the longest outing of the season for Jones, who had his way with the Commodores’ order all night.

“The biggest thing is, he doesn’t walk people,” Travis Chestnut said. “I think he walked one guy in the fall. He’s got a good fastball and his slider is good. When he’s able to command his slider, cutter and use the fastball, there’s not too many people who can hit him.” 

Jones set the tone early in the first inning by retiring Vanderbilt’s hitters in order.

A pair of two-out hits from the Commodores got Jones into some trouble in the second inning, but he forced a pop-out from Calvin Hewett to end the inning. From there on out, it was smooth sailing from Jones who didn’t allow another hit until the fifth inning. 

Jones continued what’s been a successful weekend on the mound for the Aggies. The Commodores are just 10-for-56 at the plate for a team batting average of .178. 

Much like Justin Lamkin was treated following his outing against Auburn, Jones got a well-deserved standing ovation from the Aggie faithful. 

“To come off the field with people that really, really support you and really care about you I think is the best feeling,” Chestnut said. 

Evan Aschenbeck relieved Jones in the eighth inning and finished the job as he allowed no base runners and struck out three. 

“We weren’t finishing that game with anybody but Aschenbeck,” Schlossnagle said. “Winds blowing out, once you put him in there in the eighth, it doesn’t really do any good to try and toy with the game.” 

A&M’s pitching has looked phenomenal against a team who owns a .306 batting average on the season. 

Kelii Horvath, TexAgs

Now 31-4 (10-4), the Aggies are off to their best 14-game start in Southeastern Conference play since 2015.

The Aggie offense returned the favor for Jones’ tone-setting first inning in the bottom of the frame by scoring five runs.

Their first run was scored on a leadoff home run by freshman third baseman Gavin Grahovac.

Jace LaViolette was hit by a pitch before Brayden Montgomery was walked, bringing up the Aggies’ cleanup hitter Jackson Appel.

Appel hit a line drive back up the middle, scoring LaViolette and increasing the Aggies’ lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, Ali Camarillo drew a bases-loaded walk to score Montgomery and increase their advantage to 3-0.

The Maroon & White finished off their offensive attack in the first with a sacrifice fly from Caden Sorrell, scoring Appel before Hayden Schott came in to score on a throwing error.

In the fourth inning, the sixth largest crowd in A&M history immediately shot to their feet when Chestnut launched a ball over the scoreboard. His solo home run was his first of the season.

Though, it didn’t come as a surprise to his skipper. 

“I don’t want to give away too much on Chestnut, but he’s got sock,” Schlossnagle said. “He’s just got to put the ball in play and he’s doing a better job of that.”

Later in the inning, Appel recorded his second RBI single of the night, lining a ball back up the middle to score LaViolette. 

Kelii Horvath, TexAgs

Tanner Jones’ 7.1 innings of work marked a season-high along with his third scoreless appearance of the year.

Two more runs came in to score for A&M in the eighth via a wild pitch and an RBI groundout from Montgomery. 

Despite the Aggies’ first three batters recording just one hit, the offense was still able to manage nine runs. 

“Everybody talks about the first three guys, but the first three guys get so much support by the next three guys and the three guys after that,” Schlossnagle said. “To me, that’s kind of the secret sauce of the offense is having those three older guys behind those three superstars.” 

Despite scoring nine runs, A&M finished the day with just five hits — which was surprisingly less than Vanderbilt’s six. 

Nonetheless, the score is all that matters and the Aggies dominated to improve to 31-4 on the season and 10-4 in SEC play. 

Texas A&M will go for the sweep on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT.