Grahovac and Wilson pace A&M's offense in 8-4 win

Game #40: No. 7 Texas A&M 8, No. 21 Florida 4
Records: Texas A&M (32-8, 13-6), Florida (29-15, 11-9)
WP: Aiden Sims (8-0)
LP: Liam Peterson (1-4)
Save: Clayton Freshcorn (8)
Box Score

The long ball leads the way. 

No. 7 Texas A&M evened the series with No. 21 Florida in Gainesville with an 8-4 victory on Saturday, as six of the Aggies’ eight runs came via the home run.

This was more than a display of power. It was the response A&M needed after Friday night’s quiet showing.

In the series opener, the Aggie bats were silenced, managing just two runs on five hits as Aidan King dominated across eight innings of work.

Needing a bounce back on Saturday, A&M’s offense returned to its slugging ways against Florida starter Liam Peterson. From the opening innings, the Aggies looked like a lineup determined to make sure Friday’s frustration did not linger.

On top of that, the Maroon & White received a “quality” start from sophomore right-hander Aiden Sims. In five innings of work, Sims allowed two runs on four hits while striking out seven.

Ethan Mito/Texas A&M Athletics

Now 8-0, Aiden Sims departed after just 80 pitches.

Through two innings, Sims punched out six Gator batters. However, sandwiched between the strikeouts, Blake Cyr led off the second inning with a no-doubt home run to give Florida the game’s first lead.

Although that lead was short-lived as Bear Harrison took claim to the Aggies’ first of four homers with a leadoff blast in the third. Later in the inning, A&M took a 2-1 lead as Chris Hacopian nearly left the yard with a run-scoring double off the wall in right-center.

Nico Partida followed in Harrison’s footsteps, leading off the fourth inning with a solo homer, extending the Aggie lead to 3-1. Partida finished 2-for-5 at the plate on Saturday as he continues to impress in his freshman campaign.

An inning later, Gavin Grahovac hit a mammoth shot off the top of the batter’s eye in center for a two-run homer. This was Grahovac’s second home run in as many days and his 12th since March 28.

To cap off the Aggies’ display of power, Jorian Wilson mashed a two-run home run to right field to increase the lead to 8-3. Wilson’s homer left the bat at 110 mph and traveled 445 feet as he finished 3-for-5 at the plate on Saturday.

Beyond the four home runs, the Aggies relentlessly pressured Florida pitching, piling up 15 hits.

With plenty of run support in hand, Sims handed the game over to the bullpen after five frames with a 6-2 lead. The Aggie relievers made sure Florida never got momentum rolling, as Gavin Lyons and Ethan Darden combined for 1.2 innings of work, allowing one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out a pair of Florida hitters.

Proving why he made the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, Clayton Freshcorn closed the door by recording the final seven outs.

Freshcorn entered the game in the seventh with the tying run at the plate, but he forced Ethan Surowiec to ground into an inning-ending fielder’s choice on the first pitch. The junior from Waller made quick work of the Gators in the eighth before allowing the first two batters to reach in the ninth, then retiring the final three hitters.

After using eight total relievers in the first two games, Freshcorn’s outing was crucial in preserving the Aggie bullpen for Sunday’s rubber match.

A&M will head into Sunday’s 12 p.m. CT first pitch with likely the entirety of its bullpen available, and one night after being muted, the Aggies made sure their answer could be heard all the way through Gainesville.

Another loud win would go a long way toward their postseason goals.