No. 3 Texas A&M Baseball Falls in Game 3 Against No. 22 South Carolina

Texas A&M Baseball, ranked third, loses Game 3 to South Carolina, ranked 22nd.

Mar 3, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; The Arizona State Sun Devils plays against the Texas A&M Aggies / Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports

In a hard-fought battle, the No. 3 ranked Texas A&M Aggies baseball team faced off against the No. 22 ranked South Carolina, aiming for a sweep but ultimately falling short in Game 3 is a 6-5 loss to the Gamecocks. Despite their consistent performance in the first two games of the series, where they maintained a lead throughout, the Aggies found themselves unable to seize control in this pivotal final matchup.

The Gamecocks wasted no time asserting their dominance, jumping ahead with a quick 2-0 lead in the opening inning courtesy of a two-run homer. They further extended their advantage to 3-0 by the third inning, putting pressure on the Aggies early in the game.

However, Texas A&M refused to go down without a fight. Grad transfer Hayden Schott emerged as a standout performer, showcasing his hitting prowess with a remarkable 3-4 performance at the plate, including a crucial home run and driving in three runs throughout the game.

Mar 3, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; The Arizona State Sun Devils plays against the Texas A&M Aggies / Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports

Despite South Carolina's strong start, the Aggies demonstrated their trademark resilience by chipping away at the deficit. They mounted a comeback effort, narrowing the score to 5-3 with a two-run homer in the sixth inning and adding more runs in the seventh and eighth innings to keep the game within reach.

However, despite their valiant efforts, Texas A&M couldn't complete the comeback in the ninth inning. Starting pitcher Justin Lamkin faced struggles on the mound, allowing five runs in just 3.1 innings before being replaced. Although relief pitchers Weston Moss, Josh Stewart, and Rudis managed to hold South Carolina to just one run after the fourth inning, the Aggies' offense struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Despite the disappointing outcome, several Aggies delivered commendable performances at the plate, with multiple players tallying hits throughout the game. However, the team ultimately fell short in their bid to secure the sweep, highlighting areas for improvement as they prepare for future matchups.

Pitching Recap:

• Justin Lamkin: 3.1 innings pitched, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out 4.
• Weston Moss: Pitched for 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs, with 1 strikeout.

Hitting Recap:

• Ted Burton scored one run and secured two hits.
• Hayden Schott contributed three hits, scored one run, and drove in three RBI.

Looking forward, Texas A&M's crucial home series against Vanderbilt is scheduled to begin on Friday, April 12. Prior to that, the Aggies will face UTSA in a midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 9, starting at 6:00 p.m.