No. 19 Aggies outclass Prairie View in final tune-up before SEC action

Game #16: No. 19 Texas A&M 14, Prairie View A&M 0 (7 innings)
Records: Texas A&M (10-6, 0-0), Prairie View A&M (4-13, 0-0)
WP: Weston Moss (2-1)
LP: Demarques Thompson (0-2)
Box Score

As they should.

No. 19 Texas A&M outclassed Prairie View A&M in front of 4,931 at Blue Bell Park on Tuesday night as the Aggies run-ruled the Panthers in seven innings, 14-0.

As they should.

“It’s always good to feel confident going into any game, specifically with a big part of our season coming up on Friday,” A&M head coach Michael Earley said. “We were fully focused on today’s game, but definitely like the confidence factor heading into Friday.”

The Aggies feasted on 12 free passes — nine walks and three hit-by-pitches. They scored in all six offensive innings, including a seven-run fourth.

For a fifth consecutive game, they played error-free baseball and earned a stress-free victory.

The Maroon & White also thrived with runners in scoring position, going 6-for-12 as a club and often settling for line-drive or seeing-eye singles.

“Timely hitting or any RBI situation is really not making the moment bigger and hitting normal but also with a plan of what you need to do,” Earley said. “Guys did that tonight. It’s a really low heartbeat situation, and trying not to.

“It’s just about sticking to your plan and not making it bigger than it is.”

There are starting to be signs that A&M is working out of an early-season funk. Tuesday’s as-expected result and performance is just another step toward consistency.

Of their 10 hits, only two went for extra bases.

The first was a Gavin Kash two-run double that was one of only two hits in a back-breaking fourth.

The second was a 111 mph laser beam home run off the bat of Jace LaViolette an inning later.

It represents his 55th career homer, bringing him within one of Daylan Holt’s program record. It also served as his 161st RBI, tying him for seventh on A&M’s all-time list with Braden Shewmake.

“The swings he’s taking in the cage and then the swings he took all week were great,” Earley said of LaViolette. “He’s in a really good spot. He’s swinging at good pitches. He has hit some balls really, really hard, but with not a ton to show for it.”

However, it was LaViolette’s only hit. Just Hayden Schott (2-for-4) and Terrence Kiel II (3-for-4) enjoyed multi-hit nights.

The latter also drove in a pair and stole two bags. His team-leading batting average now sits at .420.

“I’m feeling really comfortable and confident,” Kiel said. “Baseball is a hard game, but you just got to know how to play and get through it. I’ve been finding really great success these past couple of games, and I’m having fun out here with the guys, and it has been great so far.”

Kendal Lockler, TexAgs

Tuesday was Weston Moss’ seventh appearance and second start of the year. He now owns a 2.25 ERA in 12.0 innings.

A&M’s consistent and relentless offensive production made the work of its pitching staff seemingly effortless.

Prairie View mustered just four hits and six total base runners. No Panther advanced beyond second base.

Starter Weston Moss earned the win for three innings. Behind him, Kaiden Wilson, Isaac Morton, Grant Cunningham and Gavin Lyons each provided a scoreless frame.

“I felt like the pitchers behind me and me, we were going to shove today,” Moss said. “I had a lot of confidence in that, but yeah, we scored a lot, so that helps, too.”

Of course, the competition level was nowhere close to what will roll into town on Friday.

Prairie View is now 4-13 with a loss to Division II Houston-Victoria on its ledger. No. 17 Alabama is 17-1 after a late-inning win at UAB on Tuesday.

That said, a lopsided result over an overmatched opponent provides something the Aggies definitely needed: Confidence.

“It gets us prepared,” Kiel said. “We had a tough loss on Sunday, but the best thing to do today was come in here and just play baseball, put up a bunch of runs and get a lot of hits. The team is ready for a great Alabama team on Friday.”

As they should be.