Feb. 21, 2026, 4:31 a.m. CT
No. 24 Texas A&M (5-0) pulled off its worst “Olsen Magic” led win of the season on Friday night, defeating Penn 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth after freshman Boston Kellner hit a double to center field, scoring Sawyer Farr to take Game 1 of the series. However, until magic struck, this was a pitching duel, led by Texas A&M junior ace Shane Sdao’s impressive second start.
Allowing just three hits while striking out seven, Sdao lasted seven scoreless innings before being replaced by Ethan Darden. For Penn, Jake Moss and Thomas Shurtleff combined for eight-strike outs and allowed four hits, including Kellner’s walkoff double, and even though the Aggies pulled off the victory, seven hits and one run isn’t good enough for a team with this much talent.
One of the roster’s star transfers, second baseman Chris Hacopian, has not played since Texas A&M’s second game during the Opening Weekend series vs. Tennessee Tech, as head coach Michael Earley stated multiple times that the former Maryland standout is dealing with an unspecified illness, and, as of this week, a “stiiff back” that has kept him in the dugout.
While Hacopian had a chance to play on Friday, his absence prompted Early to provide another update after the wins, with much of the same information about Hacopian’s back issue.
“Same issue. He went through a little bit of hitting in the cage today, took a little bit of ground balls, ran a little bit. Still progressing. Tomorrow, I’d say is up in the air. Feel a little better about Sunday, feel even better about Tuesday. So to me, it’s just day-to-day right now, but he has had some great days in a row.”
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Instead of simply stating that the junior remains day-to-day and leaving it at that, the fact that Earley is looking at Sunday, or most likely Tuesday, as Hacopian’s likely return date is good news, and provides the fan base a much clearer outlook as the season rolls on.
Outside of Caden Sorrell and Gavin Grahovac, who combined for just one hit on Friday, Hacopian is the team’s most polished hitter and provides more consistency in the lineup to put players in scoring position.
Texas A&M will face Penn in Game 2 on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and will air on SEC Network+.
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