After a disappointing series loss to then-No. 8 Auburn at Blue Bell Park on May 3, No. 9 Texas A&M baseball looked to end its season on a high note, starting with No. 20 Ole Miss at Swayze Field. 

With both the Aggies and Rebels in dire need of a series victory, Ole Miss claimed a 1-0 lead on May 9, besting A&M 5-3 in the series opener.

The Maroon and White made a statement in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, routing the Rebels, 18-5, after seven innings to even the series at one apiece. But only a few hours later in Game 2, a run slipped through the cracks against junior right-handed pitcher Clayton Freshcorn, giving Ole Miss a 6-5 lead, which sealed A&M’s series defeat. 

Rebel routing

Junior second baseman Dom Decker and senior third baseman Judd Utermark gave sophomore RHP Aiden Sims slight trouble in the first, putting the Rebels in scoring position with only a single out. 

Sims responded by knocking down back-to-back batters to escape the opening frame, as well as retiring three straight Rebels in the second for a 1-2-3 inning, featuring a pair of strikeouts. 

The Aggies got on the board in the third, thanks to back-to-back solo homers from redshirt junior first baseman Blake Binderup and senior shortstop Ben Royo. 

With junior 3B Gavin Grahovac and junior center fielder Caden Sorrell on base, junior designated hitter Chris Hacopian launched his initial offering past the center field wall to push A&M’s advantage to five. 

Only a single pitch into Sims’ third mound stand, the Forney native hit senior left fielder Daniel Pacella, signaling the hardship to come. With runners on first and second, Utermark put runs on the board for the Rebels with a double to right field. The extra-base knock was followed by sophomore CF Hayden Federico’s single to center field, pushing Ole Miss’ run total to three. 

Freshman right fielder Jorian Wilson kicked things off in the fourth inning with a single up the middle, only to be brought home by Royo with a second straight home run to left field. 

Sophomore 2B Sawyer Farr reached first base with a single to center field, advancing to second on a wild pitch. When Grahovac grounded out to shortstop, Farr made his way to third base, but as soon as the Fort Worth native thought about heading home, Sorrell gave him a free ride. 

Sorrell smashed a ball 419 feet into right field, marking his 22nd homer of the year to take sole possession of sixth place on A&M’s all-time home run leaderboard. 

Sophomore RHP Gavin Lyons filled in for Sims in the fourth, limiting the damage to only a pair of runs by repeat offenders. Decker singled to center field to bring home senior DH Collin Reuter, while Utermark doubled to right, bringing home Pacella. 

Junior catcher Bear Harrison and Wilson got on base in the sixth inning, courtesy of singles to left center field. Junior RHP Landon Koenig served four pitches outside of the zone to Royo, sending him to first to load the bases. The Aggies capitalized on a wild pitch, plating yet another run and moving a pair of runners into scoring position. 

With Grahovac in the batter’s box, a double down the third base line brought home Wilson and Royo, pushing A&M’s lead to seven. 

If the Rebels ever had a chance of getting back into the game, the Aggies destroyed it in the sixth frame. 

A&M tacked on five more runs, thanks to a pair of base knocks by Royo and Grahovac, as well as a two-run home run by Harrison. 

In the seventh, Hacopian launched his second longball of the day, sealing the Aggies’ run-rule victory. Three outs later, the Fightin’ Farmers’ attention moved to the series finale. 

One hit away

Giving A&M a taste of its own medicine, Ole Miss secured an early five-run lead after three innings, launching a trio of longballs beyond the outfield wall. Junior C Austin Fawley and sophomore LF Topher Jones blasted back-to-back homers in the second inning, followed by a two-run shot from Reuter in the third. 

Through three frames, sophomore RHP Taylor Rabe kept the Aggies scoreless, securing eight strikeouts and allowing only a single hit by none other than Royo. 

It wasn’t until the fourth inning that A&M got on the board, recording three straight singles by Sorrell, Hacopian and senior LF Jake Duer, before scoring courtesy of a balk. Mirroring Game 1, Binderup and Royo launched back-to-back home run blasts, tying the game at five apiece. 

In the innings that followed, the Aggies and Rebels fought through an evenly matched contest, as both teams sought a much-needed series victory. 

A&M called on Freshcorn as early as the fourth inning, marking his earliest entrance into a game this season. The McLennan College transfer quickly found his rhythm, earning a pair of strikeouts and not allowing a single hit until a seventh-inning slip-up. 

After a flyout by sophomore SS Owen Paino, Freshcorn gave Decker a free ride to first base. With another flyout, this time by senior RF Tristan Bissetta, Decker stole his way into scoring position. 

When Utermark came up to bat, all it took was a single to left field for Decker to make his way home and give Ole Miss a one-run advantage. 

In the innings that followed, Freshcorn battled through adversity to give the Aggies a fighting chance.

Serving three straight strikeouts, Freshcorn mowed down the Rebel offense. With only three outs left, A&M had little room for error if it hoped to leave Oxford, Mississippi, with the series victory. 

Despite a challenge by head coach Michael Earley, the Aggies grounded to shortstop to end the game at the hands of a double play, sealing their defeat. 

A&M will make its final regular-season stand on Thursday, May 14, against No. 11 Mississippi State. With national seeding on the line, the Aggies will search for one last resume boost against the Bulldogs at Blue Bell Park, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.