Aggies Rally Late to Move Past Lamar in College Station Regional Opener

Friday, May 29

College Station

3:00 PM

Texas A&M

40-14

Lamar

34-26

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Lamar	1	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	8	1
Texas A&M	0	0	0	0	3	0	2	2	X	7	6	2

May 29, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Box (PDF)

By: Nolan Koslosky, Athletics Communications

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M erased a five-run deficit to secure the opening game of the College Station Regional over Lamar, 7-5. The win marked Michael Earley's first postseason win as a head coach.

The Cardinals (34-26) plated the first run of the contest on an RBI single with the help of an error. Lamar extended its lead in the third behind three hits to claim a 3-0 advantage. A pair of solo homers in the fourth inning put the visitors up, 5-0.

The Aggie bats found life in the bottom of the fifth, led off by a solo homer from Gavin Grahovac. Caden Sorrell was hit by a pitch, and Chris Hacopian mashed a two-run shot to left-center to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Texas A&M evened the tally in the seventh inning with a bases-loaded walk by Nico Partida and a sacrifice fly from Bear Harrison.

Ol' Sarge's charges claimed its first lead of the contest in the bottom of the eighth. Ben Royo laced a double down the left field line to begin the frame. Travis Chestnut entered as a pinch-hitter, laying down a sacrifice bunt. An errant throw on the play by the Cardinals' pitcher allowed the go-ahead run to cross home plate. Hacopian brought an insurance run home with a sacrifice fly to secure a 7-5 decision in the Aggies' favor.

Shane Sdao worked 3.0 innings as the starter, suffering four runs, three earned, on six hits while punching out four batters. Gavin Lyons ate the bulk out of relief, dealing 4.0 innings of one-run ball and fanning four. Clayton Freshcorn sealed the Maroon & White's victory and earned his fourth win of the season. The right-hander tossed the final 2.0 innings in scoreless fashion, punching out one hitter without allowing a hit.

TOP PLAYERS
Chris Hacopian – 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB
Gavin Grahovac – 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB
Gavin Lyons – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Clayton Freshcorn – W (4-2), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

SCORING SUMMARY
T1 | Tab Tracy reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. AJ Taylor plated the run with a single up the middle. Lamar 1, A&M 0.

T3 | Beau Durbin singled up the middle with two outs. Taylor knocked a double to left-center field to bring a run home. Jake Wagoner plated another with a single to right field. Lamar 3, A&M 0.

T4 | Braden Benton led off the frame with a home run to left-center field. With two outs, Kevin Duran launched a solo homer of his own. Lamar 5, A&M 0.

B5 | Grahovac drilled a solo homer to start the frame. Sorrell was hit by a pitch and Hacopian mashed a home run to left-center field. Lamar 5, A&M 3.

B7 | The Aggies loaded the bases with a walk from Sorrell, an infield single by Hacopian and a hit by pitch on Duer. Partida brought a run home with a walk and Harrison evened the score with a sacrifice fly. Lamar 5, A&M 5.

B8 | Royo laced a double down the left field line. Chestnut laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away from first base to allow the go-ahead run to score. Grahovac walked, and both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Sorrell walked to load the bases. Hacopian provided an insurance run with a sacrifice fly. Lamar 5, A&M 7.

GAME NOTES

The Aggies secured its 27th 40-win season in club history.
Grahovac blasted his 20th homer of the season, clinching the 9th 20-homer season in program history and the second time he has accomplished the feat.
Sorrell extended his hitting streak to eight games and his on-base streak to 11 games.
Harrison was hit by a pitch for the 19th time this season, which ranks as the fourth most in a single season at Texas A&M. His 32nd hit by pitch in the Maroon & White ranks fifth in program history.
The junior catcher has reached base safely in 29 consecutive games.
Hacopian logged his 14th multi-hit and 8th multi-RBI performance.
Royo stole his first base of the season and extended his hitting streak to seven games.

QUOTES
Coach Michael Earley on the team's comeback….
"The starter did a hell of a job. The guy pitched his tail off. They got some runs early, but we kept playing, kept getting on base, and moved the ball. Gavin did an awesome job keeping it right there. We just kept playing. I mean, obviously you can say you start slow when a guy pitches well like that, keeps you off balance. It looks like it's slow. We were as ready to play as we've been, you know, every single game, but they just played well, man. That's a really tough team."

Chris Hacopian on his two-run home run…
"I had a feeling that he was probably coming with mostly off-speed stuff. So, you see something, and it's as simple as that. My mindset doesn't change based on the game, it's the same process."

Gavin Lyons on his first NCAA pitching…
"For me, nothing changes. It doesn't matter the score, who we're playing, what inning it is. I just went out there with that mindset, it was cool pitching my first ever playoff game."

UP NEXT
Texas A&M advances to the winner's bracket and will play the winner of Texas State and USC at 8 p.m. Saturday night.

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