COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – No. 12 Texas A&M baseball rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat Lamar 7-5 in the opening game of the College Station Regional on Friday at Blue Bell Park.
The Aggies are hosting the opening round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last five seasons.
Texas A&M and Lamar faced off for the 43rd time in the College Station Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
Here is a game rundown:
Why did A&M win? Lamar scored first after Shane Sdao gave up a base hit. Sdao gave up two runs in the third inning on back-to-back RBIs off the bats of A.J. Taylor and Jack Wagoner.
In the fourth, Braden Benton hit a home run to left center to make it a 4-0 lead. Gavin Lyons came into relieve Sdao.
However, after retiring two batters in the inning, Kevin Duran hit a home run for the Cardinals. Lamar led 5-0 before the Aggies scored.
Gavin Grahovac led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run to put A&M on the board. Two at bats later, Chris Hacopian hit a two-run home run to bring the Aggies within two runs.
A&M got the score within one when Nico Partida was walked with bases loaded. Bear Harrison came in clutch with a sacrifice fly in the next at bat to tie the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Travis Chestnut laid down a sacrifice bunt but a throwing error from Cardinals’ pitcher Julius Carpio, Ben Royo scored for the Aggies to take a 6-5 lead.
Later in the inning, Hacopian hit a sacrifice fly to score Chestnut and gave A&M the 7-5 win over Lamar.
Who stood out? Hacopian went two-for-three with three RBI and tallied his tenth home run of the season. Grahovac also notched his 20th home run of the season.
What was a key stat? It’s the first time the Aggies have come back from a 5-0 deficit since a game against Georgia in 2021.
What’s next? A&M will face the winners of the USC-Texas State game in the winner’s bracket on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
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