COLLEGE STATION, Texas — With the sun beginning to set over Blue Bell Park and the pressure mounting in a must-win matchup, Texas A&M’s pitching ace Justin Lamkin delivered one of the best performances of his career. Behind his dominance on the mound and the timely hitting of outfielder Jace LaViolette and infielder Kaeden Kent, the Aggies stormed back on Saturday evening to take Game Two of their weekend series against the No. 10-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.
The 7-3 victory gave Aggies fans a shot of much-needed energy after a disappointing Game One defeat, and it reminded the college baseball world that A&M’s blend of grit and talent is still very much a force to be reckoned with in the SEC gauntlet.
The night began with uncertainty for the Aggies. Georgia entered the matchup riding a wave of momentum, having won 13 of their last 16 games and claiming the opener in College Station with an offensive outburst that put A&M on its heels. But where others may have crumbled under pressure, Justin Lamkin found another gear.
Lamkin, a left-hander known for his poise and sharp command, set the tone early. He worked quickly and efficiently through the Bulldog lineup, using a mix of fastballs, changeups, and a devastating slider that kept Georgia hitters guessing. The sophomore finished the evening with 7.2 innings pitched, striking out nine batters while allowing just three runs—only one of which came during the crucial middle innings when the Aggies made their move.
His command in key situations was as sharp as it’s been all season. Whether it was escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the third or retiring Georgia slugger Charlie Condon in a high-stakes sixth inning showdown, Lamkin’s performance oozed confidence. After the game, Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle didn’t mince words.
“He gave us exactly what we needed,” Schlossnagle said. “He attacked the zone, he didn’t let the moment get too big, and he gave us a chance to win. That’s all you can ever ask for out of your starter.”
But as good as Lamkin was, it was junior second baseman Ryan Targac who ignited the spark early for the Aggies. After a scoreless first, Targac stepped to the plate in the second and roped a double into the left-center gap. That hit set up Texas A&M’s first run of the evening, as Kent followed with a line-drive RBI single that plated Targac and sent a message to the Bulldogs’ dugout: this was going to be a different game.
Georgia responded quickly in the top of the third, courtesy of a two-out RBI single by Fernando Gonzalez that tied the game. But Lamkin buckled down, retiring the next four hitters in a row and keeping the Bulldogs from mounting any real momentum.
The game truly shifted in the bottom of the fifth when Kash, the Aggies’ freshman designated hitter, launched a no-doubt, two-run homer over the right-field fence to break a 1-1 tie and give Texas A&M a 3-1 lead. It was Kash’s fifth home run of the season and his most crucial to date. The blast sent Blue Bell Park into a frenzy and gave Lamkin the cushion he needed to pitch with freedom.
“Honestly, I was just trying to see a pitch up and drive it somewhere,” Kash said postgame. “I didn’t think it was going out off the bat, but the wind was blowing out a little and I got all of it. It felt good to come through for the team.”
That sense of contribution and team-first mentality has defined the Aggies’ approach all season. While Lamkin and Kash were the stars on the stat sheet Saturday, it was a collective effort that earned them the Game Two win. The A&M defense was sharp throughout the contest, with standout plays from Kent at second base and a sliding catch by Hunter Grimes in left field that snuffed out a potential Georgia rally in the seventh.
In the bottom half of that inning, the Aggies put the game out of reach. With two on and one out, junior outfielder Braden Montgomery ripped a double down the third base line to score both runners and extend the lead to 6-2. It was the kind of clutch, momentum-killing hit that has made Montgomery one of the most reliable bats in the A&M lineup.
Georgia tried to answer back in the top of the eighth, scratching across a run on a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 6-3. But Lamkin once again steadied the ship, getting a strikeout to end the inning and preserve the Aggies’ three-run cushion.
Closer Evan Aschenbeck entered in the ninth and shut the door with a 1-2-3 inning that included two punchouts, sealing the win and sending Aggies fans home with a reason to believe again.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Schlossnagle said. “This is a tough league. Every win is precious, and every series is a war. Tonight we responded the way good teams do after a tough loss.”
That mental toughness is what Texas A&M hopes will carry them through the rest of the SEC schedule. With top-ranked opponents still looming, including a showdown with No. 3 Arkansas and a road trip to LSU, this Game Two victory may ultimately serve as a turning point in the Aggies’ season.
It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. A reminder that A&M has the arms, the bats, and the resolve to compete with anyone.
Perhaps most importantly, it was a night that showcased the program’s depth. Lamkin didn’t just show he could be a front-line SEC starter—he proved that he’s ready to be leaned on in the most important moments. Kash, meanwhile, is emerging as one of the conference’s most intriguing freshman power threats, giving the Aggies a dangerous bat in the middle of their order moving forward.
And while Georgia will no doubt regroup and come back with fire for the rubber match, Saturday night belonged to Texas A&M.
From Lamkin’s mound mastery to Kash’s moonshot, from Montgomery’s dagger double to Aschenbeck’s exclamation point finish, the Aggies put together a complete game against one of the top teams in the nation.
Baseball, after all, is a game of response. It’s a game of how you bounce back from adversity and how you answer the call when the spotlight shines its brightest. On Saturday night, the Texas A&M Aggies answered with authority.