Tag: Texas A&M

Texas A&M sophomore superstar Jace LaViolette recaps doubleheader vs. No. 14 Alabama

“We knew it was going to be a really long day and we kind of prepared for that. We got some good sleep and hydration last night,” he stated.

The No. 1 Texas A&M baseball team took both games of a doubleheader at No. 14 Alabama on Friday, 10-5 and 18-9.

Leading the charge, as he has been all season, was sophomore Jace LaViolette. The superstar outfielder and the Aggies (35-4, 13-4 SEC) remained unphased when the Crimson Tide (24-15, 6-11) took a 5-0 lead in Game 1, going on to outscore their conference rivals 28-9 over the next 14 innings to clinch a series victory.

“We didn’t really have much talk in the dugout, we just kept doing what we were doing. We came out flat at the beginning but we knew once our bats got hot that we could do what we wanted as long as we stayed to our approach, which is what we did,” LaViolette explained Friday. “We knew it was going to be a really long day and we kind of prepared for that. We got some good sleep and hydration last night. It was just a mindset thing, coming to the park and knowing we were going to play two, a full 18 and try to do our best to trust our process and see what the results came to be.

“It’s a lot of fun to be a part of this team, to be a part of this culture, it’s an unbelievable team to be around… I think we just do what we’ve been doing all season, trust in the process and what we’ve been doing. Opening Day mentality and just doing that same thing every day. It’s been working, so why not keep it going?”

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No. 1 Texas A&M baseball team doubles up No. 14 Alabama again in second game of SEC doubleheader

45 minutes after completing a 10-5 comeback against Alabama in the first game of a doubleheader in Tuscaloosa, the Aggies made a statement.

Forty-five minutes after completing a 10-5 comeback against Alabama in the first game of a doubleheader in Tuscaloosa, the Texas A&M baseball team made a statement.

The No. 1 Aggies (35-4, 14-4 SEC) crushed the No. 14 Crimson Tide (24-15, 6-11) by a final score of 18-9. Texas A&M doubled up Alabama for the second time on Friday after scoring 10 unanswered runs to win the series opener.

The Aggies tallied 8 in the top of the second inning, 3 in the fourth and seventh, respectively, and 2 in each of the fifth and ninth. The Crimson Tide responded with 4 in the second, 3 in the fifth and 2 in the eighth.

Junior right-handed pitcher Tanner Jones start on the bump and tossed the first 4.1 frames, allowing 7 hits, 6 runs (5 earned) and 1 hit by pitch with 1 strikeout on 88 pitches. After fellow junior RHP Brad Rudis recorded one out and gave up 3 hits and 1 run on 10 pitches, senior RHP Brock Peery (2-0) took over. The savvy sidewinder pitched 1.0 inning without allowing a hit, giving up 1 walk and 1 HBP on 20 pitches.

Texas A&M will go for the sweep of Alabama on Saturday afternoon at noon on SEC Network.

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No. 1 Texas A&M baseball team announces starting rotation for SEC series vs. No. 12 Alabama

Texas A&M head baseball Coach Jim Schlossnagle has names the starting rotation for the series against Alabama.

Fresh off run ruling Air Force and sporting a unanimous No. 1 ranking, Texas A&M (33-4, 11-4) will face No. 16 Alabama (24-13, 6-9) as college baseball’s top dog in their first SEC series. However, this is SEC baseball and Alabama will be hosting the Aggies after knocking off the former No. 1 in Arkansas last weekend.

On Wednesday, head coach Jim Schlossnagle announced the usual suspects for Texas A&M’s three starting pitchers for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The three-head monster will enter the series with a 3.18 ERA and a 12-2 record. They have a monster 157 strikeout led by Aggie comeback player of the year Ryan Prager. 

Here is that lineup:

Texas A&M will begin a three-game home series on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa versus No. 12 Alabama.

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‘No words to describe them’: Texas A&M freshman Gavin Grahovac left speechless by 12th Man

“Unbelievable, there are literally no words to describe them. They bring the energy every single game no matter how many people are here.”

The Texas A&M baseball team has become the No. 1 team in the nation due to countless contributions from upperclassmen but there have been several underclassmen who have also stood out.

At the top of that list is freshman third baseman Gavin Grahovac, who bats at the top of the order.

“I think it was from one to nine. Every guy did it, every guy was hitting the ball great, we all saw it great. I don’t know, we just came out and wanted to compete. That’s what we continue wanting to do and what we continue planning to do,” Grahovac said postgame on Sunday. “Vandy is a historically great team. Coach Corbin is a great coach and all of those players are great. In the SEC, you can’t expect nothing less than greatness from every team so we have to come out here and compete.

“Coach always tells us to keep playing because the game isn’t over until it’s over.”

Grahovac was left speechless by the 12th Man’s attendance this weekend during a three-game SEC sweep of No. 12 Vanderbilt.

“Unbelievable, I don’t know if you guys saw my tweet but there are literally no words to describe them,” Grahovac told the media. “They bring the energy every single game no matter how many people are here. Obviously, we had some big crowds this weekend so that was awesome. There are no words to describe them, they are absolutely amazing.”

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‘We play to a standard, not a scoreboard’: Texas A&M RHP Chris Cortez recaps sweep of Vanderbilt

“It’s a luxury that we have guys that go out there and eat up innings. We have a lot more guys in the bullpen who can help the team win.”

Texas A&M junior right-handed pitcher Chris Cortez has been lights out as of late, and his success can be attributed to a new mindset of having fun on a game to game basis.

“The Tuesday game has nothing to do with today. I was happy about Tuesday but I’ve moved on from it. I know the best version of myself is having fun and it all starts in the bullpen. When I’m having fun, that’s when I’m at my best,” Cortez explained to the media on Sunday. “I don’t look at the scoreboard. Like Schloss says, ‘We play to a standard, not a scoreboard.’ We go one pitch at a time and that’s all I was saying. I didn’t know what the score was, what inning we’re in, I was barely paying attention to our hitters. I’m just focused on doing my job.

“I think it’s a luxury that we have guys that can go out there and eat up innings. But if they aren’t having their day, we have a lot more guys in the bullpen who can go out there and help the team win.”

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‘This place would be a boombox’: Texas A&M OF Hayden Schott explains Blue Bell Park’s new anthem

“(Jace and I) were like ‘Dude, if we got a whole crowd in on that and played it every run or something, this place would be a boombox!'”

On its way to becoming the No. 1 team in the nation this weekend with a sweep of SEC rival Vanderbilt, the Texas A&M baseball team recently found a new tune to groove to every time an Aggie scores a run.

After the series finale against the Commodores, graduate student outfielder Hayden Schott was asked about the origin of the team’s fondness for the song “Rattlin’ Bog” by the Irish Descendants.

“Me and Jace LaViolette, they were playing it at South Carolina on the speakers and we were like ‘Dude, if we got a whole crowd in on that, and played it every run or something, this place would be a boombox!’ So then Friday night, obviously we had a great baseball game, it just added so much to the crowd I felt like,” Schott recalled. “Everyone was so loud.

“I think now that we won, they can’t take it away, so I’m going to have a word with coach about that. I’ll just make sure that he doesn’t end this streak. I’ll probably have a word with him tomorrow during our media meeting with me and him.”

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‘Don’t let the game play you’: Texas A&M junior pitcher Chris Cortez was lights out in UTSA win

“You play the game, you don’t let it play you,” he stated. “I think I’ve been doing that my entire career and not really enjoying the game.”

The No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team’s evasion of an upset loss on Tuesday night versus UT San Antonio is largely being credited to senior catcher Jackson Appel, deservingly so after he crushed 3 home runs.

However, just as much credit should be shown to junior right-handed pitcher Chris Cortez, who was absolutely dealing against the Roadrunners. He earned the victory after tossing the final 4.0 innings on the mound.

“I think it’s just me having fun. I’ve grown up a lot this year through the help of Max Wiener, myself and my teammates. You play the game, you don’t let the game play you,” Cortez proclaimed afterwards. “I think I’ve been doing that my entire career and not really enjoying the game. Now I just go out there and I have fun, good or bad. It gives me a lot of clarity and freedom to go out there and just be who I am.”

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‘It was a normal day’: Texas A&M senior catcher Jackson Appel explains 3-HR game vs. UTSA

“It was a normal day, I don’t know what really just happened. You’re just up there trying to get on base and put a good ball in the zone.”

The three youngest players in Major League Baseball all have the same first name and another may be on his way to joining them in the near future.

Texas A&M senior catcher Jackson Appel smashed 3 home runs during a 6-5 win against UT San Antonio on Tuesday night, with the last being a walk-off shot.

“It was a normal day, I don’t know what really just happened, it was pretty cool,” Appel recalled postgame. “You’re just up there trying to get on base really and put a good ball in the zone. I got one and it somehow got out, not sure how, but there wasn’t too much in the back of my mind.

“I thought I squared (the first and third) up well but you just never really know. Sometimes the ball flies and sometimes it hangs up in the wind. Both happened to get out so we’ll take it.”

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‘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.”

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Texas A&M guard Endyia Rogers declares for 2024 WNBA Draft, which is Monday night on ESPN

“We did things that people did not expect us to. Y’all had faith and belief in me like no other. Y’all are on the way to something special.”

After playing her final collegiate season in Aggieland, Texas A&M guard Endyia Rogers is taking her talents to the next level.

Rogers formally declared Wednesday for the 2024 WNBA Draft, which is Monday night.

“These past five years have been nothing short of amazing,” Rogers stated via X. “I appreciate everyone who came along this journey with me. It wasn’t always easy, but we found a way. I want to thank all my coaches from USC and Oregon for giving me the opportunity to play for their amazing programs.

“To my teammates and coaches at Texas A&M, I am super grateful that I was able to spend my last year of college basketball with you all and experience what it is like to be an Aggie. We did things that people did not expect us to do. Y’all had faith and belief in me like no other. I am thankful for the everlasting memories that I made with you all. I know that we did not finish the season the way that we wanted, but y’all are on the way to something special. Thank you all for everything, I am forever appreciative. As always, Gig’Em!

“To my family and friends, there is no me without you. It has been a journey since I was 4 years old. Y’all made every bit of the journey worth it. I appreciate the everlasting support and the sacrifices made throughout my basketball career. It takes a village. I love each and every one of you guys dearly.

“With that being said, I am going to pursue my lifelong dream of playing in the W, and will declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft!”

Rogers spent her underclassman years at the University of Southern California. Then she became an Oregon Duck for the next two before playing her final season at Reed Arena.

The 29th annual WNBA Draft is Monday at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.

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