Texas A&M is closing in on an NCAA tournament berth after a 3-2 victory over Auburn, despite losing standout Jace LaViolette to a hand injury, diagnosed as a break, which will end his season. The Aggies, once preseason No. 1, faced a challenging May but regained momentum with a recent win over Mississippi State. With a current RPI of 53, they aim for an SEC tournament title to secure an at-large spot. Coach Mike Earley focuses on team performance, emphasizing the importance of winning every game as they prepare for a quarterfinal match against LSU.
Texas A&M is one victory away from solidifying its position for the NCAA baseball tournament, but the team faced a significant setback.
Jace LaViolette, anticipated to be a top-10 pick in this summer’s MLB draft, was struck by a pitch on his left hand during the fifth inning of A&M’s 3-2 victory over Auburn on Thursday.
LaViolette, hailing from Katy Tompkins, was forced to exit the game and was later seen on the broadcast with his hand and two fingers in a splint. A&M coach Mike Earley confirmed that LaViolette fractured his hand and will miss the remainder of the tournament.
“Clearly, Jace contributes a lot to the team,” said shortstop Kaeden Kent, who hit a three-run homer for A&M’s total runs. “But with our chemistry, it’s not as daunting to bounce back.”
Texas A&M, which started the season ranked No. 1 and was a finalist in last year’s College World Series, had seen its season teetering in early May.
Following a series win against then-No. 2 LSU, the Aggies suffered a home sweep at the hands of Missouri, a team that hadn’t won a game in the SEC. A subsequent series loss to Georgia placed A&M as the No. 14 seed in the tournament, effectively removing them from many NCAA tournament projections.
A 9-0 victory over Mississippi State on Wednesday kept the Aggies in the at-large conversation, albeit just barely.
Thursday’s triumph against Auburn will certainly bolster A&M’s standing, given that they entered the game with an RPI of 53.
Starter Justin Lamkin pitched five innings, allowing three hits and one run before being relieved by Spring’s Weston Moss, who tossed 2 1/3 innings and benefited from two crucial outfield plays by Sawyer Farr in left and Terrance Kiel, who stepped in for LaViolette in center.
Kaiden Wilson closed out the eighth and recorded two outs in the ninth but surrendered a homer to Lucas Steele. Clayton Freshcorn of Waller came in to secure the final out.
Next up for the Aggies is a matchup against LSU in the quarterfinals on Friday night.
While an SEC tournament title may be necessary for the Aggies to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament, they have undoubtedly strengthened their case.
“We’re focused on our team,” Earley stated. “It’s crucial, everyone knows that. We aim to win every game we can. That’s our plan until someone tells us otherwise.”