Game #35: No. 10 Texas A&M 10, Houston 2
Records: Texas A&M (28-7, 9-5), Houston (16-19, 3-12)
WP: Grant Cunningham (3-1)
LP: Alex Solis (2-2)
Box Score
It’s not a surprise at this point.
Texas A&M’s true freshmen are good. Really good.
You’ve known that, but on Tuesday night vs. Houston, they proved it once again as the 10th-ranked Aggies defeated the Cougars at Blue Bell Park, 10-2.
“A lot of them played high-level baseball and were really talented,” A&M head coach Michael Earley said of the kids. “It was tough getting all those guys to school. We had a really good class, and we lost some (to the draft), but we built a really good class, and we got some guys in here that were able to contribute right away.
“They’re good. They’re physical, and they think they belong, and I think that’s the biggest thing.”
They’re a major reason Earley’s Aggies currently belong among the nation’s top 10.
One third of A&M’s lineup is comprised of youngsters Nico Partida, Jorian Wilson and Boston Kellner.
Two-thirds of those rookies homered as the Maroon & White rattled off 10 unanswered runs after Houston took an early 2-0 lead.
Wilson’s seventh — a second-inning two-run laser to Section 12 — got A&M on the board. An inning later, Partida’s 11th put A&M on top for good.
“We have confidence in each other, and we push each other to be the best every day,” the latter said of his classmates. “Our biggest thing is we’re not playing for hits, we’re not playing for strikeouts; we’re playing to win. When you win, those things will come. I’m proud of all the guys and how hard they work. Better things to come.”
Gavin Grahovac — the former SEC Freshman of the Year — was the only non-freshman to drive in a run with a three-run shot to center field in the fifth that moved No. 9 into ninth on A&M’s all-time list with 35 in his career.
Adding a two-run double in a six-run fifth, Wilson went 2-for-4 with a career-best four RBI. Partida was 3-for-4 and drove in three. Even Kellner had a hit.
“We’ve been working hard on just staying on pitches, especially the other way on lefty-lefty,” Wilson said. “To be able to see the hard work show on the field, it’s a great feeling.”
Earley’s youth movement impressed on the mound, too.
Luke Billings used his wipe-out slider to strike out the side in his first collegiate inning. Hunter Vincent punched out a pair in a scoreless eighth. Even newcomer Hunter Bond, a transfer from Blinn, worked a scoreless frame.
“We think they can help us,” Earley said. “[Billings and Bond] weren’t pitching because they were injured. They were pitching tonight, and I think we put them in a good spot, and that’s exactly when we wanted to use them. Minus the first inning, everything kind of worked out how we mapped it out, which that’s not always the case, especially on Tuesday.”
That’s not to gloss over the important performances of upperclassmen Juan Vargas, Grant Cunningham and Ethan Darden, who each held Houston off the scoreboard during their time on the bump.
It’s just that A&M’s 2025 signing class, both pitchers and hitters, ruled Tuesday evening’s proceedings.
It’s also not surprising given that standout freshmen are becoming more and more regular in Aggieland (see: Braden Shewmake, Jace LaViolette and Grahovac).
“It’s all a combination of the draft, a little bit NIL, and the statistics show, if you go to college, your chances of being a major leaguer, especially in this conference, are significantly higher,” Earley explained. “With the resources and the development you get in college… I think college baseball is in a really, really good spot because you’re getting more really good players to school.”
As for A&M’s ‘25 signees, they aim to rule much more, and hopefully the college baseball world, by the time they leave Aggieland with class rings proudly displaying a ‘29 on the crest.
“We can do anything at this point,” Partida said. “Right now, this year, try to get to Omaha, and I feel like that’s something we can do in upcoming years as well with this squad.”
