Jace LaViolette's Three Home Run Night Makes History In Aggies Win Over Mississippi State
Welcome to the Texas A&M history books, Jace LaViolette.
One of the top young hitters in the Southeastern Conference, LaViolette is expected to be the leading man in College Station following a dominant high school career at Tompkins High School in Katy. The 6-6 outfielder is still coming into his own as his freshman season inches closer to completion.
But for those skeptical of LaViolette's impact, Friday night's showdown in Starkville ceased criticism of his role for the program moving into the future. LaViolette came to the rescue again, launching three home runs, including the game-winner in the top of the ninth to give the Aggies a 6-4 win over Mississippi State.
“Real proud of the way our guys hung in there,” A&M manager Jim Schlossnagle said. “Obviously getting Jace to the plate in the ninth inning was a big deal.”
LaViolette saved his best swing of the night for his last at-bat after smacking two dingers in the first and third innings, respectively. With the Bulldogs (27-25, 9-20 SEC) leading by one in the ninth, A&M put two runners on base thanks to a pair of one-out singles by Jack Moss and Trevor Werner.
Up came LaViolette, and down went MSU's chance to pick up a much-needed win. With a 2-2 count, Bulldogs' reliever Aaron Nixon tossed a hanging slider in the top half of the box for LaViolette to obliterate out of Dudy Noble Field for a three-run blast.
Not only did A&M take a two-run lead, but LaViolette cemented his place in Aggie lore with his 18th home run of the season, surpassing John Byington’s freshman home run record set in 1987.
“That was a feeling I’ll never forget… That’s unbelievable,” LaViolette said. “To be honest, I didn’t know what the record was. I don’t even know what to say, honestly. That’s unbelievable, but there’s still a lot more work to do and still got to come out here tomorrow and do the same thing and win.”
LaViolette totaled all six RBI for the Aggies (31-23, 13-16 SEC) Friday. In the top of the first with two outs, LaViolette drilled a two-run homer off MSU starter Cade Smith for home run No. 16. Two innings later, on a 2-2 count, he made Smith pay for leaving an 85 MPH fastball down the middle with a solo shot to take a 3-2 lead.
"There aren’t too many of those guys out there that come to college and we’ve all seen his growth throughout the course of the season and now he’s playing his best baseball," Schlossnagle said.
The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single by David Mershon. In the eighth, Ross Highfill smacked a single through the right side that drove in Luke Hancock to take a 4-3 lead.
Sophomore Chris Cortez stabilized A&M's pitching, delivering 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks. After LaViolette's long ball, Evan Aschenbeck solidified the victory by retiring the final two Bulldogs to pick up his second save of the season.
“I thought [Justin] Lamkin was outstanding today,” Schlossnagle said. “[Shane] Sdao was awesome. Cortez got just the ground balls we needed, and Aschenbeck was certainly better today than he was yesterday.”
The Aggies remain in the driver's seat for the chance to make next month's NCAA Tournament. LaViolette's swing made sure to keep the contention status alive and well.
A&M returns to Duby Noble Field for its regular season finale at 3 p.m.
Subscribe to the Texas A&M Aggies Daily Blitz Podcast!
Hey 12th Man! Want to see the Aggies in action? Get your Texas A&M game tickets from SI Tickets here!
Follow AllAggies.com on Facebook and Twitter!
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Aggies? Click Here to Subscribe to the All Aggies Newsletter
Want even more Texas A&M Aggies News? Check out the SI.com team page here