No. 25 Baseball Outlasts Missouri in Series Opener, 11-9

COLUMBIA – No. 25 Texas A&M totaled eight hits, 11 walks and seven stolen bases to claim the series opener over Missouri, 11-9, Friday night from Taylor Stadium. The win marked head coach Michael Earley's 50th win as the skipper of the Aggies (20-5). 

Six of the Maroon & White's eight hits went for extra bases to power past the Tigers (17-10). Jorian Wilson led the offensive efforts, going 2-for-5 at the plate with a home run, double and three RBI. 

The Aggies got on the board first in the opening frame on a sharp RBI single to left field by Nico Partida. 

Missouri responded in the second inning with a sacrifice fly to even the score. 

Texas A&M broke the contest open with a seven-run fourth inning, headed by a solo shot and a 2-RBI double from Wilson. Caden Sorrell drove a three-run homer that traveled 386 feet over the right field wall. In the frame, the Aggies logged five extra-base hits, four walks and four stolen bases.  

Terrence Kiel II lined a single through the left side in the fifth inning to plate a pair of runs and give the Maroon & White a 10-1 edge. 

The Tigers fought back in the bottom half of the fifth with a six-run frame behind six consecutive hits. The home team added a pair of runs in the seventh inning to get back within a run. 

The Aggies loaded the bases in the ninth inning and added a run of insurance on a Chris Hacopian RBI fielder's choice to seal the final score at 11-9. 

Shane Sdao was solid through the first four frames as the starter but was unable to tame the Tiger bats in the fifth inning. The lefty finished his night suffering seven runs in 4.2 innings pitched, adding four strikeouts. Juan Vargas (2-0) followed in relief and earned the win, posting 1.2 innings pitched and a pair of strikeouts, surrendering one earned run. Ethan Darden and Gavin Lyons each made relief appearances to close the seventh inning. 

Clayton Freshcorn slammed the door in the final two frames, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn his sixth save of the season. 

TOP PLAYERS 

Jorian Wilson – 2-for-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 SB

Caden Sorrell – 1-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SB

Chris Hacopian – 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 3 BB, 2 SB

Clayton Freshcorn – SV (6), 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K 

SCORING SUMMARY 

T1 | Gavin Grahovac reached on a hit by pitch and stole second. Hacopian drew a walk. With two outs, Partida lined a single to left field to put the Aggies on the board. A&M 1, Missouri 0. 

B2 | Cameron Benson led off with a double off the right field wall. Blaize Ward walked but was put out at second on a fielder's choice off the bat of Mateo Serna, advancing Benson to third. Donovan Jordan plated the run on a sacrifice fly to center field. A&M 1, Missouri 1. 

T4 | Wilson drove a solo shot to right field. Boston Kellner doubled to right-center, followed by a Grahovac walk. Sorrell extended the lead with a three-run homer to right field. Hacopian doubled to left-center field and stole third base with two outs. Partida walked and Hacopian scored on a wild ball four. On the ensuing pitch, Partida stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Kiel walked and stole second base on the next offering. Wilson plated a pair on a double down the right field line. A&M 8, Missouri 1. 

T5 | Sorrell was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Hacopian and Jake Duer followed with a pair of walks. Kiel plated two runs on a single through the left side of the infield. A&M 10, Missouri 1. 

B5 | Keegan Knutson, Kam Durnin and Kaden Peer each singled to load the bases. Pierre Seals plated a pair on a single to right field and advanced Peer to third. Jase Woita singled down the right field line to score Peer and move Seals to third. Benson cleared the bases with a home run to right field. A&M 10, Missouri 7. 

B7 | Woita knocked a solo shot to right field. Benson walked and advanced to second on a Ward groundout. Serna plated the run on a single up the middle. A&M 10, Missouri 9. 

T9 | Bear Harrison and Kellner were each hit by a pitch. Blake Binderup advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt to third base. Sorrell was intentionally walked to load the bases. Hacopian brought a run home on a fielder's choice to the shortstop. A&M 11, Missouri 9. 

GAME NOTES 

• Friday's opener marked the 100th meeting all-time between the clubs. With the win, the Aggies lead the series 57-41-2 

•  The win marked the 50th for Michael Earley as head coach of the Aggies, surpassing Lil Dimmitt for eighth-most all-time at Texas A&M. 

• Each Aggie in the starting lineup reached base safely. 

• The six stolen bases are the most in a game this season by the Maroon & White. 

• The three RBI from Wilson are a career high and marks the first multi-RBI performance. 

• The Hallettsville, Texas, native has homered in back-to-back games. 

• Hacopian matched a career high with three walks and stole his first two bases in the Maroon & White. 

• Kellner has reached base safely in all 25 games this season. 

• Sorrell extended his hitting streak to eight games and his on-base streak to 19 games. 

• The junior now has a team-high 11 multi-RBI performances. 

• Partida stole the first base of his collegiate career.  

• Kiel stole his team-best seventh base.  

UP NEXT 

Texas A&M continues the series with Missouri at 4 p.m. Saturday from Taylor Stadium. The contest will broadcast on SEC Network+ and may be heard locally on WTAW 1620 AM/94.5 FM. 

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