Tag: Texas A&M University

‘We played bad for 2 days’: Jim Schlossnagle reflects on how No. 2 Texas A&M avoided SEC sweep at LSU

“We played bad for two days. You deserved to get your rear end kicked when you don’t play well. Our guys care too much sometimes,” he said.

The No. 2 Texas A&M baseball team avoided an SEC sweep at reigning national champion LSU this past weekend with a 14-4 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Aggies coach Jim Schlossnagle chatted with TexAgs on Monday and reflected on the series loss.

“We played bad for two days. You deserved to get your rear end kicked when you don’t play well. Our guys care too much sometimes. If you have that level of care, it can snowball, especially in the sport of baseball,” Schlossnagle explained. “I think we have played poorly and pitched poorly before. We just swung the bat enough to cover it up. We had full control of the game with Ryan Prager pitching. He walked two guys. They bunt. They got a little flare that is just out of Ali Camarillo’s reach. Tommy White was up. This was the double play that we wanted, and a bad throw was made.

“You have to give credit to the team we faced. Gage Jump and Luke Holman are two of the best starters we will see all year. The numbers don’t accurately reflect those to guys. Griffin Herring is awesome. We knew going into the weekend their left-handed pitching would be an issue for us.

“I thought Chris Cortez gave us a shot of life. We had Caden Sorrell’s triple. That got everyone fired up and then the Gavin Grahovac homer. Baseball can eat you up. You can feel the greatest for a while. A couple of negative things happen, and you have to be careful not to let it steamroll… Thought it was great when we battled back. We needed it. Three to four innings in on Sunday, it was not a good feeling in the dugout.

“I don’t like postgame talks or speeches, but that was mine on Saturday night. ‘Just chill out.’ The game ended, and we had one of the best pitchers in the country hanging his body over the front rail of the dugout like the season was over.

“We will not be perfect. They are human beings. We have to find ways to overcome it. There will be days we do. Those two days, we didn’t.”

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Scott Clause/USA TODAY

Texas A&M avoids the sweep with a 14-4 victory in Game 3 over LSU

Texas A&M rallies in the top of the fifth to take a lead and hold to win game three over LSU

Texas A&M (40-8, 16-8 SEC) had a rough weekend in Baton Rouge but salvaged the series with a big fifth-inning rally for an important 10-run win over LSU (31-18, 9-15 SEC).

Over the past three games, including the third game of the Georgia series, the Aggies have been grappling with strikeouts, a recurring issue this season. However, as the game of baseball often proves, streaks happen. On Sunday, the Aggies found their rhythm, putting 14 runs on the board despite Jace LaViolette and Braden Montgomery going 1 for 10. This unpredictability is what makes baseball such a fascinating sport.

After falling 3-0 early, the Aggies stormed back, and freshman Caden Sorrell got the ball rolling by triple to center field in the top of the fifth. Travis Chestnut’s single brought Sorrell home to cut the lead, and Gavin Grahovac homered a few batters later to take a 4-3 lead. Jackson Appel got in on the home run party with a two-run shot and a bases-loaded walk followed by a few singles capped off a nine-run inning.

Notably, Kaeden Kent and LaViolette contributed five runs with their impressive home runs in the top of the ninth, leading the team to a commanding 14-3 lead. Let’s not forget the stellar performance of Chris Cortez, who put in the work, earning the win while allowing only one hit and striking out six.

Despite losing their No. 1 ranking, the Aggies’ performance in game three was a testament to the offensive and defensive prowess in 4.1 innings we’ve appreciated over the past few months. Texas A&M will return to Blue Bell Park to face Rice on Tuesday, May 7, at 6:00 p.m. CT. The game will air on SEC Network+.

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No. 1 Texas A&M baseball team blows early 3-run lead to lose another SEC game at LSU

First pitch was delayed due to lightning and the Aggies’ (39-8) bats came out with thunder, scoring 3 runs in the top of the first inning.

Following a 32-minute weather delay on Saturday night in the Bayou, the Texas A&M baseball team attempted to tie its three-game SEC series at reigning national champion LSU.

With 11,751 fans in attendance, the first pitch at Alex Box Field was pushed back due to lightning in Baton Rouge. The Aggies‘ (39-8, 15-8 SEC) bats came out with some thunder, scoring 3 runs in the top of the first inning.

However, Texas A&M allowed 5 unanswered runs to the Tigers (31-17, 9-14) and ultimately lost 6-4 for the second straight evening. The Aggies scored their other run in the ninth frame. LSU tallied 3 in the third, 1 in the seventh and 2 in the eighth.

Freshmen, third baseman Gavin Grahovac & outfielder Caden Sorrell, sophomore OF Jace LaViolette, junior shortstop Ali Camarillo and senior pinch hitter Ted Burton each contributed a hit. Camarillo, LaViolette, Sorrell and senior catcher Jackson Appel respectively recorded 1 run batted in.

The series finale at Skip Bertman Field is Sunday at 1 p.m.

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‘Top 15 deal’: Texas A&M Athletics signs 5-year, multi-million dollar agreement with Adidas

“In the market of sports apparel and college athletics, it’s really a top 15 deal,” former athletic director Ross Bjork told The Eagle.

The Texas A&M Athletics Department has agreed to a new multi-million dollar merchandise deal with Adidas according to a recent report.

Per Travis Brown of The Eagle, the agreement is for five years and $47 million to keep the German giant as the Aggies’ exclusive uniform and apparel provider.

Before leaving College Station in January to become the next director of athletics at The Ohio State University, Ross Bjork took part in the negotiations.

“In the market of sports apparel and college athletics, it’s really a top 15 deal,” Bjork told The Eagle. “In a suppressed market, with Under Armour being out of the market, there’s two players: it’s Nike and Adidas. When we went through the negotiation, it was clear that Adidas was the best option, financially — equipment, apparel, all the components that they do from a marketing standpoint.

“They’ve just become a good partner here at A&M.”

The contract is effective from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2027, according to Brown. Per Bjork, Texas A&M and Adidas “operated on a term sheet for approximately a year of the deal as they continued to iron out the final contract,” the report stated.

The Aggies have been partners with the iconic three-stripe brand since 2007 after previously working with Nike.

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No. 8 Texas A&M softball team drops SEC series with extra inning heartbreaker at No. 11 Florida

After having a pitchers’ duel on Friday, the SEC rivals played the exact opposite on Saturday with a high-scoring extra inning thriller.

After having a pitchers’ duel to begin the SEC series in Gainesville on Friday night, Texas A&M and Florida played the exact opposite of that on Saturday afternoon with a high-scoring extra inning thriller.

The No. 8 Aggies (39-11, 15-8 SEC) have lost back-to-back 1-run games against the No. 11 Gators (42-12, 16-7), following a 9-8 defeat in eight frames. Texas A&M dropped its first conference set since the last week of March at No. 10 LSU.

Florida scored early Saturday with 3 runs in the first inning. The Aggies responded with 2 in the top of the second. The Gators countered with 5 more in the bottom half of the frame to take a commanding 8-2 lead.

Texas A&M mounted a comeback and tallied 1 run in the third, 3 in the fifth and 2 in the seventh to tie the game, ultimately sending it to extras. Florida won in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single to left field by sophomore catcher Jocelyn Erickson.

The series finale at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium is Sunday at noon on ESPN2.

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No. 11 Florida softball team wins pitchers’ duel vs. No. 8 Texas A&M to start SEC series

The Aggies began their final SEC series of the regular season to start the weekend and ultimately fell short in Game 1 from Gainesville.

The Texas A&M softball team began its final SEC series of the regular season to start the weekend and fell short in Game 1 from Gainesville.

The No. 8 Aggies (39-10, 15-7 SEC) lost a pitchers’ duel versus No. 11 Florida (41-12, 15-7) by a final score of 2-1 on Friday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Texas A&M scored its lone run in the top of the second inning. Senior designated player Trinity Cannon walked, then scored on an RBI extra base hit by Allie Enright. The junior right fielder now has 9 doubles this season.

Aggies junior left-handed pitcher Emiley Kennedy (20-8) tossed 4.1 scoreless frames til the Gators strung together 4 consecutive hits. Florida plated both of its runs in the fifth inning and held on for the victory.

Despite Kennedy suffering her eighth loss of the year, she became Texas A&M’s individual SEC strikeout leader for a season with 81, passing Mel Dumezich in 2013.

Game 2 is Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

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4-run sixth inning leads LSU baseball team past No. 1 Texas A&M in SEC series opener

The Aggies have been on the winning end more often than not, but when they have lost, it’s typically been bad frame that has been the cause.

With only seven defeats in 46 games, the Texas A&M baseball team has been on the winning end more often than not, but when they have lost, it’s typically been one bad inning that has been the cause.

The Aggies (39-7, 15-7 SEC) lost by a final score of 6-4 against LSU (30-17, 8-14) at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge on Friday night.

The reigning national champions have struggled in conference play this season following the departure of several players to the 2023 MLB Draft. However, it took just one frame for the Tigers to prevail in the SEC series opener.

Texas A&M scored 1 run in each of the first two innings and LSU tied the game with 2 in the third. The Aggies reclaimed the advantage with 1 in the fourth frame but that was short-lived.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers tallied 4 runs to seize the lead for good. Texas A&M added 1 in the eighth but ultimately fell short, despite recording 4 more hits, 11-7.

Game 2 on Saturday evening begins at 6:30 p.m. CST.

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‘We’re built very similarly’: Coach Trisha Ford explains keys for No. 8 Texas A&M at No. 11 Florida

“We’re built very similarly. We have some speed at the top of our lineup just like they do with Kendra Falby and Skylar Wallace,” she said.

The No. 8 Texas A&M softball team (39-9, 15-6 SEC) has a three-game conference series in Gainesville at No. 11 Florida (40-12, 14-7) this weekend to conclude the regular season.

“We’re built very similarly to be honest with you,” Aggies coach Trisha Ford said Wednesday. “We have some speed at the top of our lineup just like they do with (Kendra) Falby and (Skylar) Wallace, Korbie (Otis) actually runs pretty well too. We are very similar so there is some athleticism. I think we’re going to have to play clean defense. For us, it’s about limiting their free bases.

“If you look at Florida, there is a lot of walks and hit by pitch. They tend to score those free runners at a very high rate. That’s really going to be where our focus is and we’ve been talking to the pitchers for the last couple of days. It’s just being able to throw the ball over the white, being comfortable with it and these are the reasons why.

“I think we’re going to have to play clean defense though because I do believe that they’re going to try to cause havoc with some short game, putting runners in motion, maybe some fake bunts, steals, delayed steals, we’ve talked to the team about all of that.”

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Texas A&M junior right-handed pitcher Brad Rudis boasts about bullpen after win versus Tarleton

“We have a lot of awesome guys in that bullpen that do a lot of different things and every single guy has a lot of value in what they bring.”

The No. 1 Texas A&M baseball team earned a 10-6 victory versus Tarleton State University on Tuesday night at Blue Bell Park.

Throughout this season the Aggies have relied on consistent bullpen performances from reliable relievers, like junior right-handed pitcher Brad Rudis.

“Working every single day in the bullpen with Max (Weiner) and having belief in what I have each and every single day. We work a bunch with the mental game stuff, just pounding confidence on the mound and believing in what you have in order to succeed,” Rudis explained postgame Tuesday evening. “We have a lot of awesome guys in that bullpen. A lot of awesome guys that can do a lot of different things and I think every single guy has a lot of value in what they bring. So, each and every single day all of us work hard and work with Max each and every single day.”

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Texas A&M baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle raves about Ali Camarillo’s progression after Tarleton win

“Those 39 wins are cool,” Schlossnagle said postgame on Tuesday. “The homers are for a while there, the only way that we scored in the game.”

The No. 1 Texas A&M baseball team defeated Tarleton State University on Tuesday night at Blue Bell Park by a final score of 10-6.

After the game, Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle spoke to the media about the midweek win.

“Coach (Michael) Earley has done such an unbelievable (job, Ali Camarillo) is a completely different hitter than when he showed up here in every way. His approach at the plate, his stance, his demeanor, direction, the way he swings the bat. He’s hitting balls 106, 107 miles an hour. He’s not even close to full man strength that he’ll be when he gets in professional baseball. So, super proud of Ali for buying in, the work Mike has done and Josh Kesel in the weight room, it’s been a big part of it,” Schlossnagle said. “Those 39 wins are cool. The homers are for a while there, the only way that we scored in the game.”

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