Tag: Texas Aggies Baseball

Texas A&M OF Jace LaViolette is ready to work in 2025

Texas A&M star outfielder Jace LaViolette is excited to get back to work for his all-important junior seasons in 2025

Texas A&M’s (53-15) 2024 baseball season sadly ended in defeat at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers in the College World Series Finals. They fell, 6-5, in Game 3. Still, one name consistently stands out for those wondering what’s to come in 2025.

Since the start of the postseason, head coach Jim Schlossnagle has dealt with several key injuries, led by star outfielder Braden Montgomery’s broken ankle. Sophomore starting pitcher Shane Sdao was sidelined with an upper-body injury, ending his postseason run.

However, the Aggies persevered behind the emergence of junior second baseman Kaeden Kent and, of course, A&M’s elite pitching staff Ryan Prager, Justin Lamkin, Chris Cortez, Josh Stewart and Evan Aschenbeck dominated on the mound.

While several bad pitches that led to Tennessee home runs essentially ended the championship series in the last two games, sophomore outfielder Jace LaViolette had his moments amid his hamstring injury, including a home run on Sunday afternoon.

LaViolette’s late-season struggles were questionable outside of his nagging injury. Still, heading into his all-important junior season in 2025, this young man is poised to hit his stride, which says a lot after hitting 29 home runs and a record 50 bombs in his first two seasons.

On Tuesday, after a brief reflection, LaViolette took to X to express his gratitude toward the 12th Man and his excitement for what’s to come next season:

“Thank you, 12th Man, from the bottom of my heart for everything ya’ll did for us throughout the year. If you’re in the portal you’re missing out if you don’t want to be apart of the best university in the nation. This is where people come to be great! Let’s go get it done next year!

Finishing out his sophomore campaign, LaViolette recorded 79 hits and 29 home runs for a .305 average on the year.

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How to watch Game 3 of Texas A&M vs. Tennessee in the College World Series Finals

Texas A&M will play for it all on Monday night!

Texas A&M (53-13) will again attempt to win the College World Series Championship after the Tennessee Volunteers tied the series with a decisive 4-1 victory on Sunday night, taking advantage of two bad pitches that led to four late runs.

Despite the loss, Jace LaViolette’s solo home run was a shining moment for the Aggies, giving them their only lead of the day at 1-0. However, A&M’s inability to convert runners in scoring position and poor base running led to missed opportunities. On the other hand, senior pitcher Chris Cortez’s performance was a standout for the Maroon & White, showcasing his skill and determination.

Recording seven strikeouts in four innings, Cortez’s 99 pitches were more than enough to give the Aggies a chance. After his exit, freshman Kaeden Wilson was solid outside of the two aforementioned pitches that led to every Tennessee run, which is a good sign for a pitching staff that will be nearly 100% healthy heading into Monday night.

WATCH: College World Series Game 3 FREE on Fubo

After the game, head coach Jim Schlossnagle announced that sophomore lefty Justin Lamkin, who is several days removed from throwing 15 strikeouts in two starts against Florida to advance to the Finals, will return to the mound for the decisive Game 3.

With everything on the line, expect reliever Josh Stewart and closer Evan Aschenbeck to be the next in line if the Aggies’ offense can get things going. At the same time, Saturday starter Ryan Prager could also be available if needed.

Texas A&M and Tennessee will attempt to win their first national championship in program history on Monday evening. The first pitch of Game 3 is at 6 p.m. on ESPN (Watch FREE on Fubo) and ESPN+.

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Texas A&M’s Game 3 starting pitcher vs. Tennessee in the CWS Finals has been announced

Jim Schlossnagle will go with sophomore lefty Justin Lamkin in Game 3 of the College World Series Finals

Texas A&M (53-13) was on the cusp of winning its first national championship in program history, but due to late home runs from the resilient Tennessee Volunteers (59-12), the Aggies fell 4-1. They will again play for the title in a deciding Game 3 on Monday night.

Entering the game, head coach Jim Schlossnagle knew that after Saturday’s 9-5 victory, A&M’s pitching rotation would have to depend on several young arms out of the bullpen. Senior Chris Cortez may have pitched his last four innings as an Aggie, keeping the Volunteers in check with seven strikeouts and zero runs allowed.

However, after 99 pitches, the veteran made his way to the bench with another standing ovation. His exit led to freshman Kaeden Wilson taking the mound, which led to Tennessee taking the lead. Even though Wilson was impressive for the most part, two fat pitches led to four Volunteer runs, and Brock Perry and Weston Moss finished the final two frames.

With everything on the line, Schlossnagle announced that sophomore lefty Justin Lamkin is ready to go and will start on Monday night in the biggest game in Texas A&M baseball history.

Lamkin’s last two appearances have been nothing short of exceptional, recording 15 strikeouts and allowing four hits in two wins over Florida to make it to the finals. Also available Monday, reliever Josh Stewart and closer Evan Aschenbeck will also be ready to go.

Texas A&M and Tennessee will attempt to win their first national championship in program history on Monday evening. The first pitch of Game 3 is at 6 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN+.

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Watch Jace LaViolette hit his first home run in the College World Series

Jace LaViolette finally hits a home run in the College World Series!

For the first time in more than a month, Texas A&M star outfielder Jace LaViolette has hit a home run, which seems impossible when you think about it after he recorded 28 home runs during the regular season.

Despite grappling with a hamstring injury that has undoubtedly affected his usual production and potentially altered his swing, Jace LaViolette’s return to form on Sunday afternoon during Game 2 of the College World Series Finals vs. Tennessee was a beacon of hope. His performance, a testament to his determination, serves as a reminder of his undeniable talent.

As the home team on Sunday, LaViolette entered the game with just one hit in the CWS, so from a confidence standpoint, things looked a little shaky in one of the biggest games in program history.

However, possessing a high-MLB upside, LaViolette stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first and, after a couple of pitches, destroyed an inside fastball for his 29th home run of the year.

Texas A&M is currently leading Tennessee 1-0 in the top of the 5th inning.

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Texas A&M’s Game 2 starting pitcher vs. Tennessee in the CWS Finals has been announced

Redshirt senior Zane Badmaev will reportedly take the mound vs. Tennessee in Game 2

Texas A&M (53-13) defeated top-seeded Tennessee 9-5 on Saturday night. The Aggies are now just 27 outs away from securing the program’s first National Title in head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s third season with the program.

Sitting at a perfect 9-0 since the start of postseason play, star outfielder Braden Montgomery’s season-ending injury was supposed to put a major dent in the Aggies’ offense, but credit to junior Kaeden Kent’s exceptional play in his absence, recording 12 hits two home runs, and 14 RBI since exploding on the season during the super regional round.

On Saturday, first-year pitching coach Max Weiner worked his magic once again, as ace pitcher Ryan Prager took the mound to the tune of six strikeouts and just two runs allowed, and Josh Stewart entered the fold for four Ks before elite closer Evan Aschenbeck’s borderline-career night with seven strikeouts to earn the victory.

Ahead of the 1:00 p.m. start time, Texas A&M’s depth chart was released to the media. It revealed that Schlossnagle would go with redshirt senior pitcher Zane Badmaev for his first start of the year. This move looks similar to what Tennessee did yesterday with pitcher Chris Stamos, who only lasted one inning.

With senior Chris Cortez available, my guess is that Badmaev is expected to last at least two, to possibly three innings before Cortez does the rest of the work in the middle innings. So far this season, Badmaev is 1-0, with 27 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA.

Texas A&M will face Tennessee in Game 2 of the College World Series on Sunday, June 23 at 1:00 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC and be available for streaming on ESPN+.

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How to watch Game 2 of Texas A&M vs. Tennessee in the College World Series Finals

Here is the early start time for Game 2 of the College World Series Finals

Texas A&M (53-13) is just 27 outs away from winning the first major National Championship program history after defeating top-seeded Tennessee 9-5 on Saturday night. The Aggies’ offense woke up early, scoring seven runs in the first and third innings.

Aggies’ ace Ryan Prager once again demonstrated his prowess on the mound, delivering a stellar performance with unwavering confidence. He recorded six strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs after 81 pitches in four innings, a testament to his skill and dedication.

After the redshirt sophomore walked to the bench with a standing ovation, Josh Stewart relied on his nasty pitching style to get through two more innings with four Ks while allowing just two more runs. After two quick pitches from Ryan Rudis, which led to a solo Tennessee home run, elite closer Evan Aschenbeck came in.

Throwing with his usual swagger, the senior was lights out in critical moments, recording seven strikeouts with just two hits, and after 46 pitches, Aschenbeck knows that a short is likely imminent regarding the stakes at hand:

“It’s the College World Series. I will be ready to go. There is not a doubt in my mind.”

Offensively, everyone contributed. SEC Freshman of the Year 3B Gavin Grahovic led things off in first with a huge solo home run to take the early 1-0 lead, followed by fellow freshman Caden Sorrell’s RBI single to finish out the inning.

Going into the third, the Aggie bats exploded for five runs. In contrast, junior CWS standout Kaeden Kent, who went 3-5 with four RBI on the night, ended the frame with an RBI single. Kent then returned in the seventh with a two-run homer to essentially end the game at 9-2 before the Vols’ late three-run rally.

Heading into Sunday afternoon, head coach Jim Schlossnagle has yet to announce a starting pitcher but knows that junior Chris Cortez will be a part of the rotation regardless.

“(Chris) Cortez will be a part of it, more than likely. We have to decide what to do with (Justin) Lamkin.”

“There will be guys who haven’t pitched yet that will have to give us something.”

Texas A&M will face Tennessee in Game 2 of the College World Series on Sunday, June 23 at 1:00 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC and be available for streaming on ESPN+.

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Watch Texas A&M’s final hype video that will get you ready for the CWS Finals

Let’s get ready to rumble!

The stage is set for the College World Series Finals, where the mighty Texas A&M (52-13) will go head-to-head with the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers (58-12). This is a ‘Clash of the Titans’, a battle that has been brewing since the start of the regular season, and now it’s time for the ultimate showdown.

Both programs are coming off impressive victories on Wednesday. The Volunteers defeated Florida State 7-2 behind a late offensive surge, while the Aggies’ dominant pitching performance paved the way for a 6-0 victory over the Florida Gators. Sophomore Justin Lamkin recorded a CWS record nine strikeouts in his best career outing.

As the teams gear up for the most significant weekend in their program history, head coach Jim Schlossnagle, alongside ace pitcher Ryan Prager and DH Hayden Schott, shared their thoughts with the media. The third-year head coach expressed the team’s collective desire to bring home a championship to the 12th Man, underlining the importance of the game.

“It would be awesome. The 12th Man deserves it so much. They’ve been so close and invested so much in athletics.” “I think we’re the first team to be in the national title since the 30s… The 12th Man is so special, and if I talk about it too much, I’ll start crying.”

While Tennessee’s offense heavily relies on home runs, with 178 on the year, no one can deny that Texas A&M’s pitching staff is the hottest group in the country, starting with Ryan Prager in Game 1. With the matchup just hours away, Texas A&M’s media team has released the final “hype” video to prepare Aggie fans for what’s to come.

Texas A&M will play Tennessee in Game 1 of the College World Series finals on Saturday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M’s Game 1 starting pitcher vs. Tennessee in the CWS Finals has been announced

Texas A&M ace Ryan Prager will unsurprisingly take the mound in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals vs. Tennessee

Texas A&M (52-13) is just two wins away from winning it all. On Saturday night, the Aggies will face the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals.

Under the guidance of head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the team is gearing up for the battle. In his final pregame press conference before Game 1, he revealed that redshirt sophomore ace Ryan Prager will be leading the charge against the Volunteers. Prager’s impressive performance, with 20 outs and four strikeouts in A&M’s 5-1 win over Kentucky, has earned him this crucial role.

Rested and ready to go, Prager, along with the rest of the Aggie’s borderline elite pitching staff, is the primary reason the program is playing for its first national championship behind first-year pitching coach Max Weiner, whose “control the zone” mantra has readily lived up to expectations.

Fellow starting pitcher Justin Lamkin is just another example of how good A&M’s pitching staff has been since landing in Omaha. The sophomore set a CWS record with nine strikeouts in just five innings, propelling the Aggies to a 6-0 victory over Florida in the semifinal round.

So far on the season, Prager is 9-1 while recording 118 strikeouts, allowing 75 hits, and having an impressive 2.88 ERA.

Texas A&M will play Tennessee in Game 1 of the College World Series finals on Saturday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M is reportedly battling several injuries amid College World Series finals berth

Outside of Jace LaViolette, Hayden Schott and Jackson Appel are also reportedly banged up

Texas A&M’s (52-13) postseason run has been record-breaking on several fronts after defeating Florida 6-0 in the College World Series semifinals on Wednesday night, as starting pitcher Justin Lamkin produced an absolute gem on the mound.

In five innings, the sophomore continued his impressive performance against the Gators after recording six strikeouts during their first meeting on Saturday in three innings. Lamkin set a CWS record with 9 Ks in his best career performance, while Josh Stewart and Evan Aschenbeck added five more strikeouts for an impressive 14 on the night.

Offensively, the Aggies scored six runs on six hits, and while star outfielder Jace LaViolette made his surprise return amid his lingering hamstring injury, his 0-4 showing at the plate wasn’t surprising.

However, after the win, head coach Jim Schlossnagle provided an interesting update regarding the injury report outside LaViolette. According to Schlossnagle, DH Hayden Schott, who went 0-2 with a run scored, is reportedly playing with a torn meniscus, as his knee issue is a lot more serious than previously anticipated.

Joining Schott, catcher Jackson Appel is also “banged up” but will continue to play through the pain. Both players have no plans to sit out of the final round for good reason.

“We are down our No. 2 starter, a first-round pick, and Jace (LaViolette) is banged up.”

“Appel is banged up. Schott is playing with a torn meniscus… You rally around it. You out-team the other team.”

Texas A&M will play Tennessee in Game 1 of the College World Series finals on Saturday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Kaeden Kent’s emergence has helped propel Texas A&M to the College World Series finals

Kaeden Kent has been lights out at the plate during Texas A&M’s College World Series run

Texas A&M’s (52-13) postseason ascendance has been nothing short of extraordinary. Third-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle has guided the Aggies to the program’s first College World Series finals series after blanking Florida 6-0 in the semifinal round.

It’s not just one player but the collective effort of the Aggies’ elite starting staff and bullpen that has led to their success. As a team, they have only allowed an average of one run in 27 innings behind 37 strikeouts, showcasing their unity and shared commitment to victory.

While first-year pitching coach Max Weiner’s influence has certainly sparked this team’s performance on the mound, one player has constantly stood out since star outfielder Braden Montgomery suffered his season-ending ankle injury in the super regional round, as reserve second baseman Kaeden Kent has quickly become a stalwart on offense ever since.

Nearly two weeks ago, during A&M’s 15-9 super regional clincher vs. Oregon, Kent’s emergence was borderline epic. Down 8-4 heading into the 7th, the Aggies scored five runs off of seven walks, and with a slight 9-8 advantage, the son of former MLB star Jeff Kent began writing his Texas A&M story, launching a grand slam into center field to propel these Aggies to their eighth College World Series appearance in program history.

Since Montgomery’s devastating injury, Kent has stepped up in a big way, recording nine hits, 10 RBI, and just one strikeout, and is batting a team-high .450 since in just 20 at-bats.

After recording an RBI single in the 9th to add the Aggie’s sixth run on the board and essentially end the game against Florida, head coach Jim Schlossnagle knows that this weekend’s championship round will require more consistent production at the play, putting more pressure on Kaeden Kent to perform on the biggest stage.

He can handle it.

Texas A&M will play Tennessee in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals on Saturday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.