Aggies Baseball Falls 8-6 to Florida as Winning Streak Ends
The No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies (17-1, 0-1 SEC) )baseball team lost 8-6 to the No. 8 Florida Gators (11-6, 1-0 SEC) in a tight game at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida, for their first loss of the season.
Despite the relief effort by Chris Cortez, who struck out a career-high tying eight batters over four innings, the junior was handed the loss, giving up two runs.
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After Florida grabbed an early lead with two runs in the first inning, the Aggies mounted a comeback in the second, scoring five runs to take a 5-2 lead. Ali Camarillo's RBI fielder's choice and Kaeden Kent's game-tying RBI single were pivotal.
Still, the highlight came from freshman Gavin Grahovac, who smashed a three-run homer, his fifth of the season and second in consecutive games, solidifying the Aggies' response.
In the third inning, Florida responded strongly with a four-run surge, reclaiming the lead at 6-5 through a solo homer, an RBI single, and a three-run homer.
The Aggies' first defeat was marked by starter Ryan Prager's 24-inning scoreless streak being snapped, as the redshirt sophomore allowed six runs in 2.1 innings. The Aggie pitching staff collectively struggled, allowing a season-high of five home runs.
In the top of the fourth, senior Jackson Appel countered for the Aggies with a mighty solo shot, launching the ball 446 feet over the left-center wall. It marked the third homer of the season for the Texas A&M starting catcher.
Despite Chris Cortez retiring nine consecutive batters, seven of them via strikeouts, the Gators managed to break through against the junior in the sixth inning with a solo homer, inching ahead 7-6. Florida secured an insurance run in the seventh with their fourth solo homer of the game, sealing the final score at 8-6.
The Aggies will have a chance to bounce back again today at 5:30 in Gainesville for game two.
