After starting its home Southeastern Conference schedule with back-to-back losses to No. 7 Georgia, No. 23 Texas A&M baseball avoided the sweep with an 18-5 victory on Sunday, March 22. Fueled by four multirun innings, the Aggies bested the Bulldogs after only seven frames.

“You don’t ever want to get swept,” head coach Michael Earley said. “Don’t get it twisted, we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish. We’re a better team than how we’ve played, but that is a 30-game gauntlet, and you have to get them when you can get them.”

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Aiden Sims took the mound for A&M, kicking off the game with a dominant 1-2-3 inning. 

After a quick flyout in the bottom of the first from junior first baseman Gavin Grahovac, junior center fielder Caden Sorrell fought back from a 1-2 count to walk his way to first base. Taking yet another free ride, the Highland Village native was the first Aggie of the day to reach scoring position, thanks to a wild pitch from sophomore left-handed pitcher Kenny Ishikawa. 

After a pair of hits from the heart of A&M’s batting order, the Maroon and White returned to the dugout with a 2-0 lead. 

To lead off the second inning, senior designated hitter Jordy Oriach launched Sims’ fifth offering past the center field wall, putting the Bulldogs on the board, 2-1. In response, Sims mowed down Georgia’s next three batters to return to the dugout. 

For the next three frames, the southpaw slinger shut down the Bulldog offense, pitching three straight 1-2-3 innings and sending away nine straight batters. Sims only allowed a pair of hits during his showing, ending the day with eight strikeouts. 

“Today was the type of baseball that we play,” Sims said. “I knew that I needed to go out there and be who I normally am, which is throwing strikes and pounding the zone.”

Following a leadoff single by Sorrell in the bottom of the fourth, redshirt sophomore RHP Paul Farley dealt a pair of walks to junior second baseman Chris Hacopian and senior left fielder Jake Duer to load the bases for A&M. 

Junior designated hitter Blake Binderup stepped into the batter’s box searching for the elusive four-run homer, but the hometown hero fell short, striking out swinging after five pitches. 

Not to worry for the Maroon and White, as freshman third baseman Nico Partida launched his first offering 339 feet over the right field wall for a bubble-filled grand slam. 

“When I saw it go over the fence, I wanted everyone to know how excited I was, not just for myself, but for the entire team,” Partida said. “It’s all about trust and getting the next man up. When we get guys going, this team is unstoppable. We understand that if you can’t get it done, the next guy can.”

As if 10 runs weren’t enough, A&M scored seven more in the bottom of the fifth for an insurmountable 16-run advantage. 

Freshman shortstop Boston Kellner got the festivities started for the Aggies, reaching first base with a single to left field. Grahovac followed suit with a single of his own, leaving the Bulldogs no choice but to walk Sorrell. 

With the bases loaded once again, the Maroon and White secured five straight RBIs, including a fielder’s choice by Hacopian, a double by Duer, a sac fly by Binderup and a single by Partida. 

Licking their wounds, the Bulldogs offered eight straight balls to walk both Kellner and junior catcher Bear Harrison. Unable to find the strike zone, redshirt junior RHP Logan Spivey gifted the Aggies yet another run off a wild pitch. 

For the final run of the fifth inning, Grahovac singled to the infield, bringing home Harrison and giving the Fightin’ Farmers a 17-1 lead. 

By the time the Bulldogs found offensive production in the sixth and seventh innings, it was too late. With A&M’s run-rule victory imminent, Georgia secured four runs in the final frames of the game to no avail. With a final score of 18-5, the Aggies secured their second win of SEC play, pushing their conference record to 2-4.

Following the victory A&M will take a break from SEC play to host Houston Christian at Olsen Field on Tuesday, March 24, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.