COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The top-ranked Texas A&M baseball team continues its five-game homestand Friday night at 6 pm as No. 17 Georgia (30-10, 9-9) visits Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park for a three-game set.
Through 41 games, the Aggies are off to their best start since 1993 at 36-5.
In SEC play, the Maroon & White have recorded their best 18-game start in program history at 13-5. The weekend set will be streamed on SEC Network+ and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 1150AM/93.7 The Zone. Fans can also follow along with the games on X, @AggieBaseball.
Texas A&M picked up its 16th win in the last 18 contests Tuesday night, defeating Houston 13-11 in midweek action.
Freshman Caden Sorrell led the way offensively for the Aggies as the rookie went 4-for-4 and finished a home run shy of the cycle. Fellow freshman Gavin Grahovac also launched his 15th homer of the year in the win.
The Maroon & White remained the unanimous No. 1 team on Monday after going 3-1 last week, which included a road series win over No. 12 Alabama. The series win marked the fifth straight against a ranked opponent for the Aggies.
Over the weekend, Texas A&M set a program record for the most runs in an SEC series with 37.
Friday’s series opener marks the 21st all-time meeting between the Aggies and Bulldogs. The Maroon & White lead the series 13-7 and have won six of the last 10 meetings.
At home, Texas A&M is 8-1 against Georgia. The weekend set also marks the sixth straight series against a ranked foe for the Aggies.
Under first-year pitching coach Max Weiner, the Texas A&M pitching staff has lowered its ERA from a season ago by nearly two runs. The Aggies currently rank first in shutouts (8), third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.65), fourth in WHIP (1.22), fifth in ERA (3.71), eighth in walks allowed per nine (3.08), ninth in strikeouts per nine (11.2) and 17th in hits allowed per nine (7.94).
Their eight shutouts are the most since 2016.
Offensively, the Maroon & White rank second nationally in walks (278), fifth in homers (88), sixth in on-base percentage (.439), seventh in homers per game (2.15), eighth in runs (388), ninth in scoring (9.5), 13th in hits (444) and 15th batting average (.315).
The Aggies have arguably the best 1-2-3 lineup punch in all of college baseball in Grahovac, Jace LaViolette and Braden Montgomery.
The trio has combined for 172 of the Aggies’ 366 RBI on the year.
Entering the weekend, Montgomery ranks first nationally in RBI (68) and RBI per game (1.66), fourth in homers (22), fourth in total bases (137), fifth in slugging percentage (.890) and 11th in walks (41 ).
LaViolette currently sits third nationally in runs (63), sixth in homers (20), ninth in total bases (128) and 20th in slugging percentage (.815).
On Saturday, LaViolette became the first player in program history to record back-to-back seasons of 20 or more home runs.
The sophomore and Montgomery are also the first pair of teammates in program history to each hit 20 or more homers in a season.
Grahovac, who was named the SEC Freshman of the Week, has turned in a stellar rookie campaign thus far, ranking fifth in the SEC in RBI with 51. In SEC play, Grahovac has belted 10 homers and driven in 25 RBI.
PROMOTIONS AT THE BALLPARK
FRIDAY: The first 3,000 fans will receive a “Maroon Out” t-shirt prior to Friday’s contest. Following the game, there will be a firework show.
SATURDAY: During Saturday’s contest, the Aggies will honor the 1989 team for their 25th reunion.
SUNDAY: Sunday’s contest will serve as Military Appreciation Day at Blue Bell Park. Following the game, kids 12-and-under will be able to run the bases.
Copyright 2024 KBTX. All rights reserved.
