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Texas A&M Avoids Series Sweep To Portland With Walk-Off Double

Jace LaViolette came in clutch during the ninth inning to give the Aggies a 5-4 win.

Cole Thompson

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They don't call it Olsen Magic for nothing. 

Trailing by two in the ninth inning, freshman outfielder Jace LaViolette smacked a walk-off double down the right-field line to give No. 5 Texas A&M the 5-4 win over Portland. The hit ended the Aggies' three-game losing streak, helping the program avoid their first series sweep of the regular season. 

“Excited for our team,” A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “Excited for the crowd. Happy for the Corps, and the crowd played a big role in the game as long as they keep cheering for our guys.”

A&M (4-3) honored past and present members of the Corps of Cadets, displaying a new Corps-themed uniform to close out the series. New uniforms weren't the only fresh thing making their mark felt Sunday on the cusp of a new season.

After holding the Pilots (5-2) to five scoreless innings, the Aggies kickstarted a three-run ninth inning with a pinch-hit from Tab Tracy and a walk to Hunter Haas. Jack Moss singled up the middle, scoring Tracy from second and putting Haas in scoring position. 

LaViolette, one of the Aggies star freshmen hitters, took the plate following a Trevor Werner strikeout. Nabbing his third hit of the game, the ball bounced off Portland catcher's Nich Klemp padding on the relay throw, giving pinch-runner Travis Chestnut an easy path to swipe home. 

"I knew I was going to get heaters,” LaViolette said of the at-bat. “I wanted to see one. I knew he had nothing that could beat me. … And then he hung a curveball, and I just tried to put my best swing on it and get the result I could get.”

A&M's pitching staff once again struggled to get out of jams early. In his second start of the season, Chris Cortez navigated his way through five innings, striking out six Pilots while allowing four runs on six hits. 

Cortez's fastball seemed to be in command, but his secondary pitches could use some work entering next week's Shriner Children's College Classic. The sophomore allowed Portland to grab an early 3-0 lead following a home run by Tristan Gomes. 

On the flip side, A&M's bat remained cold in the first half outside of an RBI double from Kaeden Kent in the second. The Aggies went 6-of-18 through the first four frames and struck out six times. 

“I feel like Chris did great, and if we can play offense better, as we will, we’ll see what role he stays in,” Schlossnagle said. “He’s a good one.”

Junior Evan Aschenbeck relieved Cortez at the start of the sixth inning and did not disappoint in his season debut. The left-hander pitched four scoreless frames and only allowed three hits against four strikeouts. 

“It’s my first debut, but I’ve been practicing this and doing mental reps and staying in the game,” Aschenbeck said. “That’s what you have to do if you’re not getting playing time. Just stay in the game, and you will get called.” 

Hass, who finished 1-for-2 at the plate with three walks, also made several can't-miss grabs defensively. During the sixth inning, the Arizona State product made a key catch with a pair of runners in scoring position to hold the score at 4-2. Haas also made a diving stop at the top of the eighth to keep the Pilots off the base path. 

“He’s played outstanding,” Schlossnagle said. “He’s the big heartbeat of our team, and so glad he’s here.”

The Aggies will return to Blue Bell Park on Tuesday to take on Houston Baptist at 6 p.m. A&M will then travel southeast to Houston to play in the Shriner's Children College Classic to face No. 16 Louisville, Rice, and No. 24 Texas Tech from Friday-Sunday at Minute Maid Park. 

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Cole Thompson
COLE THOMPSON

Cole Thompson is a sports writer and columnist covering the NFL and college sports for SI's Fan Nation. A 2016 graduate from The University of Alabama, follow him on Twitter @MrColeThompson

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