Aggies Freshman Jace LaViolette Earns SEC Player Of The Week Honors
Jace LaViolette sits atop the Southeastern Conference for the second time this season.
LaViolette was named SEC Player of the Week after a breakout performance on the road against Mississippi State, the league office announced Monday. The 6-6 freshman made Texas A&M history and helped the Aggies clinch their spot in the conference tournament this week at The Hoover Metroplex in Hoover, Ala.
Friday night's outing in Dudy Noble Field was one Aggies' fans across the country won't soon forget. LaViolette launched three home runs, including a game-winning three-run blast in the top of the ninth to give A&M a 6-4 win. Down 4-3, LaViolette smacked a no-doubt 2-2 fastball over the right-field bleachers to take the 6-4 lead.
“That was a feeling I’ll never forget… That’s unbelievable,” LaViolette said postgame. “To be honest, I didn’t know what the record was. I don’t even know what to say, honestly. That’s unbelievable...”
With his final blast, LaViolette surpassed John Byington’s record for most home runs in a season by a Texas A&M freshman with his team-leading 18th dinger. The record, set in 1987, was tied in the third inning on a solo shot to give A&M a 3-2 lead.
LaViolette also was walked four times, including twice intentionally in the series opener on Thursday. He registered two more hits in Saturday's 15-10 win and finished the weekend 5-of-10 (.500) at the plate with three long balls and seven RBI. LaViolette previously earned Freshman of the Week after going 6-of-15 (.400) at the plate with 10 RBI and three long balls in Week 8.
While far from the most consistent hitter on the roster, LaViolette's power has made him a mainstay in College Station. He leads the Aggies in home runs (18), RBI (57), slugging percentage (.672) and walks (40) while posting a .302 batting average.
A&M returns to the diamond Tuesday as the No. 10-seed in the SEC Tournament to face No. 7-seed Tennessee in a single-elimination matchup. The winner will take on No. 2-seed Arkansas in a double-elimination showdown.
First pitch from The Met is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
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