Texas A&M blasted seven homers in an 18-5 rout, but Ole Miss bounced back with a 6-5 win to split Saturday’s SEC doubleheader.
Texas A&M baseball delivered one of its loudest offensive statements of the season Saturday at Swayze Field, but No. 20 Ole Miss still found a way to avoid a doubleheader sweep.
The No. 9 Aggies split the SEC twin bill, rolling to an 18-5 run-rule win in seven innings before dropping the nightcap, 6-5. Texas A&M moved to 37-12 overall and 16-10 in SEC play, while Ole Miss improved to 34-18 and 14-13.
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Game 1 was all Aggies power. Texas A&M tied a program record with seven home runs and reached 100 homers as a team for just the third time in school history. Ben Royo had a massive day, going 3-for-3 with two homers, four runs and four RBI in the opener. Chris Hacopian matched him with two home runs and four RBI, while Gavin Grahovac drove in four with two doubles.
Blake Binderup, Caden Sorrell and Bear Harrison also went deep as Texas A&M turned a 5-0 lead into a complete blowout. Sorrell’s blast was his 22nd of the season, ranking sixth on the Aggies’ single-season list. Hunter Bond finished the job on the mound with two hitless innings and three strikeouts.
Ole Miss didn’t fold in Game 2. The Rebels jumped ahead 5-0 behind early home runs from Austin Fawley, Topher Jones and Collin Reuter. Texas A&M answered with a five-run fourth, powered by Binderup’s three-run homer and Royo’s third long ball of the day.
But Ole Miss broke through in the seventh when Judd Utermark singled home Dom Decker for the winning run. Royo finished the finale 4-for-4, completing a perfect 7-for-7 doubleheader with three homers.
The Aggies now head home for their final SEC series against Mississippi State, beginning Thursday at Olsen Field.
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