Jace LaViolette – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Texas A&M baseball climb to the top spot in the new USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Texas A&M jumps two spots to No. 1 in the country after a dominating week going 4-0 and sweeping No. 6 Vanderbilt

There’s a new sheriff in town for Week 9 and they reside in the great state of Texas. The Texas A&M Aggie baseball team (32-4, 11-4 SEC) has captured the number one spot in the USA TODAY Coaches poll after going 4-0 during the week and sweeping the No. 6 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores impressively. They hit a total of nine home runs over the weekend outscoring Vanderbilt 36-6 for their sweep of a ranked opponent since 2016.

If their weekly resume wasn’t already ready enough the previous two top teams both lost their series over the weekend. Arkansas dropped two out of three to Alabama and Clemson did the same to NC State.

After those developments it was all but written in stone that A&M would be the new No. 1 team in the country when the polls dropped. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played, but this solidified what a lot of experts have been saying about Jim Schlossnalge’s Aggies.

Here are the complete Week 9 rankings.

Rank	Team	Record	PTS	1st	Prev	Chg	Hi/Lo
1	Texas A&M	32-4	764	22	3	+2	1/10
2	Arkansas	30-5	738	7	1	-1	1/5
3	Tennessee	30-6	703	1	4	+1	3/8
4	Oregon State	29-5	656	0	5	+1	2/7
5	Kentucky	30-5	628	1	8	+3	5/NR
6	Clemson	29-6	627	0	2	-4	2/11
7	Florida State	30-5	577	0	9	+2	7/NR
8	Virginia	28-8	528	0	10	+2	8/15
8	Duke	26-10	528	0	7	-1	7/14
10	East Carolina	27-8	505	0	11	+1	10/16
11	North Carolina	29-7	491	0	12	+1	7/17
12	Vanderbilt	26-10	432	0	6	-6	3/14
13	Wake Forest	24-11	369	0	15	+2	1/22
14	Alabama	24-12	307	0	17	+3	10/18
15	Louisiana	28-9	267	0	24	+9	15/NR
16	UC Irvine	25-7	264	0	14	-2	14/NR
17	Oklahoma State	25-11	258	0	25	+8	17/NR
18	Oregon	25-10	235	0	22	+4	18/NR
19	Dallas Baptist	26-8	184	0	13	-6	8/NR
20	Coastal Carolina	24-11	183	0	20	–	15/21
21	South Carolina	25-11	172	0	NR	+5	14/NR
22	Virginia Tech	23-10	115	0	16	-6	15/NR
23	Georgia	27-9	93	0	NR	+6	23/NR
24	West Virginia	22-13	81	0	NR	+13	24/NR
25	Indiana State	27-7	77	0	NR	+2	25/NR

Schools Dropped Out

No. 18 Florida; No. 19 UCF; No. 21 Nebraska; No. 23 Mississippi State;

Others Receiving Votes

Arizona 64; Nebraska 40; Oklahoma 27; Mississippi State 23; Florida 22; North Carolina State 21; Lamar 19; Texas Tech 14; Northeastern 13; UC Santa Barbara 11; UCF 10; Campbell 10; Utah 9; Creighton 7; Georgetown 2; Georgia Tech 1;

Texas A&M will face Air Force on Tuesday, April 16, at 4:00 p.m. CT, where the game will air on SEC Network+.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

‘Brutal baseball’: Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle recaps walk-off win vs. UTSA

“We played about as brutal baseball that you can possibly play that I ever remember an A&M team playing, which was out of character for us.”

The No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team barely avoided an upset loss against in-state rival, UT San Antonio, on Tuesday night at Blue Bell Park.

After the game, head coach Jim Schlossnagle provided his summary of the contest, including senior catcher Jackson Appel’s 3-home run performance.

“We got (Appel) in that spot because he puts the ball in play. We’re thinking that Grahovac, LaViolette and Montgomery are going to be on base a lot,” Schlossnagle explained. “It’s not necessarily about his power but he did a good job of staying on top of the baseball. There was a weird wind, I couldn’t tell if the flag was blowing across the field a little bit east. I thought Grahovac’s ball had a chance and the balls hit to center and right field.

“We played about as brutal baseball that you can possibly play, that I ever remember an A&M team playing, either one I’ve coached or seen play, which was out of character for us. But I’m really proud of our team for staying in the fight.

“Zane got us some decent outs. Peery got us four outs. Cortez was obviously electric. If we just knew 8-of-10 times that we would get that for the rest of the season, we’re an infinitely better team.”

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

See what Texas A&M Aggies made the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List

A trio of Aggies find themselves on the 2024 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List for the best amateur baseball player in the country

Texas A&M is one of two teams that currently have three players on the 2024 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. The award is given out near the end of June to recognize the top amateur player in the country. This is the third time in program history that the Aggies had three players on the list during the 2012 & 2013 seasons. Below are the current A&M players that made the list

Outfielder Braden Montgomery

Outfielder Jace LaViolette

Pitcher Ryan Prager

Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List just dropped and it features three Aggies 👀✖️3️⃣#GigEm x @USAGoldenSpikes pic.twitter.com/kENDMwtBVc

— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) April 4, 2024

The 2024 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:

May 20: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
June 3: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
June 5: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
June 21: Golden Spikes Award finalists’ fan voting ends
June 22: Golden Spikes Award winner announced

Congratulations to all of the Aggies who have been named to the 2024 Golden Spikes Award Watchlist.

Perfect Game names multiple Texas A&M Aggies to their midseason All-American teams

Five Aggies make the Perfect Game midseason All-American baseball teams

The Texas A&M baseball team is off to one of its best starts in team history, and they are getting it done in multiple ways. However, outside of the improved pitching, the lineup is full of hitters. Braden Montgomery and Jace LaViolette are probably the best 1-2 punch in the league, and Gavin Grahovac makes his case every game to be named a Freshman All-American by the end of the season.

While the pitching has cooled off since conference play started, coaches Jim Schlossnagle and Max Weiner have used the same starting pitchers for each series, and it’s worked out well overall. Left-handed starting pitcher Ryan Prager has been one of the more consistent starters, boasting a 5-0 record with a 2.21 ERA and 51 strikeouts.

When the Aggies need a closer, they know they can trust Evan Aschenbeck’s arm. He has a 0.94 ERA, a 4-0 record, three saves, and 35 strikeouts. Below are the Aggies who were named to the Perfect Game All-American teams.

Outfielder Braden Montgomery – 1st Team

Pitcher Evan Aschenbeck – 1st Team

Outfielder Jace LaViolette – 2nd Team

Pitcher Ryan Prager – 3rd Team

Third Base Gavin Grahovac – Freshman Team

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗣𝗚 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 🇺🇸https://t.co/QTiNaErkkQ pic.twitter.com/CWnfAJnLI9

— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) April 3, 2024

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 🇺🇸https://t.co/QTiNaErkkQ pic.twitter.com/cIZG7KGgHn

— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) April 3, 2024

Congratulations to all of the Aggies who have been recognized to Perfect Games All-American teams.

The Aggie trio of Grahovac, Montgomery, and LaViolette are as good as advertised

Texas A&M has three of the best hitters in the nation and they are starting to heat back up

Before the season started, one thing was apparent to the college baseball world: Texas A&M has a stable of potential All-Americans. Braden Montgomery and Jace LaViolette were preseason All-Americans and true freshman Gavin Grahovac was named D1baseball’s preseason SEC Freshman of the Year. With the help of these three, the Aggies are one of the hottest teams in the nation right now.

Grahovac has solidified the third base spot and has been a productive leadoff hitter. He’s been playing like a seasoned veteran all year, and deciding to come to Texas A&M instead of going pro is paying significant dividends for Jim Schlossnagle.

Outfielders Montgomery and LaViolette have been trading the team home lead, with Mongomery holding a 15 to 13 advantage that’s good enough for the 2nd and 3rd spots in the SEC. Mongomery leads the conference with 45 RBI, Grahovac is number eight with 33, and LaViolette comes in at ten spot with 32.

A&M arguably has the best 1-2-3 batting lineup in the country and can give any pitcher fits while on the mound.

Through 27 games, Gavin Grahovac, Jace LaViolette, and Braden Montgomery have:

• 104 hits
• 239 total bases
• 21 doubles
• 36 HRs
• 110 RBI

They are slugging a collective .788 and have a combined OPS of 1.265. Defensively, they’re fielding at a .998 clip.

Good.

— Ryan Brauninger (@R_Brauninger) March 30, 2024

Texas A&M will wrap up the three-game series in College Station on Sunday at 2 p.m. CST.

Texas A&M junior OF & RHP Braden Montgomery is among top tier of college prospects

“I knew I wouldn’t be getting as many fastballs as I would’ve liked so I just had to deal with what I got and see something over the plate.”

Texas A&M junior outfielder and right-handed pitcher Braden Montgomery departed Stanford last year for College Station and fans in Aggieland are extremely grateful for that.

Montgomery hit two home runs during a 12-8 win against Auburn to clinch an SEC series victory on Friday night at Blue Bell Park, surpassing fellow outfielder, sophomore Jace LaViolette, for the lead in homers.

“It feels great to have another win in the column,” Montgomery said postgame. “Obviously, I’m always going to have the playful noise back and forth with Jace. We’ll see if he can answer back. I was just seeing the ball over the plate and seeing really good swings on off-speed pitches. I knew I wouldn’t be getting as many fastballs as I would’ve liked so I just had to deal with what I got and see something over the plate.”

Montgomery finished 3-for-4 versus the Tigers with a game-high 3 runs batted in, 2 HR, 1 double, 2 runs scored and 1 walk. The versatile junior is quickly establishing himself amongst the top tier of college baseball prospects.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Post game: No. 4 Texas A&M outlast Auburn in a 9-7 series opening win

Texas A&M takes game one fending off each Auburn rally for a Thursday night victory

No. 4 Texas A&M (23-3, 4-3 SEC) defeats Auburn (16-9, 1-6 SEC) 9-7 in College Station on Thursday night.

Aggies star switch-hitter Braden Montgomery got the party started early with a two-run home run in the first inning for an early 2-0 for his 13th of the year. Later in the third inning, a Jaxon Appel sac fly scored Jace LaViolette, extending the lead to 3-0. Auburn had only mustered one hit to this point, and it looked like A&M might have started to pull away. Then, at the top of the fourth, Auburn tied the game with a three-run shot over the left field wall.

With the game tied at three apiece, A&M answered back when Hayden Schott hit a solo home run to retake the lead. Two walks and two singles later, the Aggies were back on top 6-3. A scoreless fifth-inning Auburn tied the game again, but it was short-lived once Texas A&M returned to the plate.

However, the scores came off free passes. They scored three runs without recording a hit. Two scores came from a bases-loaded hit by pitch followed by a bases-loaded walk. The final run was Schott’s sac fly, which brought Montgomery across the plate.

The Tigers would put another run on the board, but it wouldn’t matter as star Aggies’ closer Evan Aschenbeck closed the door on Auburn in the top of the ninth inning. Sitting at 9-7 with two out, Aschenbeck struck out the final batter to move the Aggies to 23-3 on the year with an open win in the series.

Total offense: 10 hits, 9 runs
Pitching: Evan Aschenbeck W (4-0): 4.0 innings, 5 Ks, 61 pitches. Ryan Prager: 4.1 innings, 2 Ks, 72 pitches. Chris Cortez: 0.2 innings, 1 Ks, 23 pitches. Josh Stewart: 0.0 innings, 0 Ks, 7 pitches.

Texas A&M will be back in action against Auburn in game two of the series at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park on March 29 at 6 p.m.

No. 4 Texas A&M Baseball has announced its starting pitchers for the Auburn series

No. 5 Texas A&M pitchers have been named for the opening SEC series against the Auburn Tigers

No. 5 Texas A&M (22-3, 3-3 SEC) will start their third SEC series on March 28 when they host the Auburn Tigers at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. After winning their first SEC series beating Mississippi State two games to one moving their record to .500 on the season.

As of right now, coach Jim Schlossnagle is rolling out his regular starters once again in hopes of back-to-back SEC series wins. There have been a few struggles with the pitching as the competition has gotten better, but there is still a lot of promise on the mound.

On Thursday, Schlossnagle announced Texas A&M’s three starting pitchers.

For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Here is that lineup:

Thursday: LHP redshirt sophomore Ryan Prager
Friday: RHP junior Tanner Jones
Saturday: LHP sophomore Justin Lamkin

Starting Arms vs Auburn 🦾

THU – @ryanprager10
FRI – @t_jones_7
SAT – @LamkinJustin #GigEm pic.twitter.com/bkeDiN1iG3

— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 27, 2024

Texas A&M head coach Jim Scholssnagle speaks after the 6-3 victory over HCU

Here’s what Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnalge had to say after the midweek win over HCU

No. 4 Texas A&M (22-3, 3-3 SEC) defeats Houston Christian (7-13) 6-3 in College Station on Tuesday night.

Coach Jim Schlossnagle wasn’t pleased with the batting, but he was glad that he was able to get a lot of pitchers some work. So many pitchers got work that Chris Cortez got the win after only throwing seven pitches. Max Wiener has been doing a good job of getting his guys ready, but now that SEC play has started, they need to use these midweek games to prepare the relief pitchers.

“…it went about as good as we could have hoped in terms of who we wanted to pitch tonight we wanted to get Cortez just a little bit in the middle of an inning and he did that and did it in seven pitches wanted to get Shane back out there and get a little better taste in his mouth I thought Rudis did a great job”

Below, you can watch the full presser Q&A with Jim Schossnagle.

Texas A&M player Hayden Schott speaks after the 6-3 victory over HCU

Here’s what Texas A&M outfielder Hayden Schott had to say after the midweek win over HCU

No. 4 Texas A&M (22-3, 3-3 SEC) defeats Houston Christian (7-13) 6-3 in College Station on Tuesday night.

The Aggies didn’t look smooth in the batters’ box against HCU, but multiple free passes gave A&M enough runners on base to get six runs on the board. One of the six runs came off the bat of Hayden Schott when we hit a single scoring the first run of the game. Schott explained that when you’re struggling at the plate sometimes you have to find other ways to win.

“I don’t know like we didn’t put that many barrels together which we obviously want to do but at the same time I think we got on base be able to walk around 10 times or something maybe even 11 and when you’re not banging the ball around the ballpark it’s important to get on base and that’s where those hits that kind of just barely leave the infield or stay in the infield can score runs when guys are on base so I think that’s how we won today”

Below, you can watch the full presser Q&A with Hayden Schott