HOOVER, Ala. – Kaeden Kent’s three-run home run in the top of the third inning helped spark No. 14 seed Texas A&M to a 3-2 upset win over No. 6 seed Auburn on Thursday at the SEC Tournament, a victory that came just hours after the Aggies learned they would be without star outfielder Jace LaViolette for the rest of the tournament a broken hand.
Texas A&M, now 30-25 under first-year head coach Michael Earley, will face No. 3 seed LSU in the quarterfinals on Friday, May 23, at 7 p.m. EDT on SEC Network. The Aggies’ RPI sits at 54, and Thursday’s win further strengthened their case for an NCAA Tournament bid.
Auburn, ranked No. 8 nationally by D1Baseball.com during the week of May 19, dropped to 38-17 overall and 17-14 in SEC play under head coach Butch Thompson. The Tigers will now await Selection Monday on ESPN2 to learn whether they’ll host a regional in the NCAA Tournament.
Texas A&M improved to 30-25 overall and 13-19 in SEC play under first-year head coach Michael Earley. The Aggies’ RPI sits at 54 as they aim to build their case for a tournament bid.
The Aggies struck first in the top of the third inning when shortstop Kaeden Kent launched a three-run home run over the right field wall—his 13th of the season—scoring Terrence Kiel II and Sawyer Farr.
THREE-RUN JACK FOR @Kaeden_Kent #GigEm pic.twitter.com/DaKPm1zKTE
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) May 22, 2025
Auburn starter Cam Tilly was pulled early in the top of the fourth after plunking catcher Bear Harrison. Carson Myers entered in relief. Tilly threw three innings, giving up two hits, three earned runs, a walk, and struck out six on 59 pitches (36 strikes).
Auburn got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Eric Snow crushed a solo shot to left—his seventh of the year—cutting the lead to 3-1.
First pitch swingin'! 💥@_ericsnow puts us on the board!
B5 | Texas A&M 3, Auburn 1 pic.twitter.com/Ug4Ztk6irH
— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) May 22, 2025
Aggies starter Justin Lamkin exited after five innings, having allowed three hits, one earned run, three walks, and fanned five across 85 pitches (52 strikes).
Justin Lamkin (Jr. @AggieBaseball) kept a good Auburn lineup quiet in his Gm 2 start. Durable build and held 91-93 well. Feel to turn it over at 81-83 and spins shorter gyro-type breaker at 84-85. HAA makes everything tough to square. ‘25 Elig. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/kc6gjcPIak
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 22, 2025
In the bottom of the eighth, Auburn’s Eric Guevara was called out for a violation on the basepaths during a potential double play, leading to an inning-ending 4-6-3 twin killing after review upheld the call by second base umpire Javerro January.
Here’s the video of the interference call on Auburn that ended the eighth. Umpire said that Eric Guevera slid into the restricted zone at second base. You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/fwweu4EA8X
— Hunter DeLauder (@DelauderHunter) May 22, 2025
In the bottom of the ninth, Texas A&M turned to reliever Kaiden Wilson for a five-out save attempt in the ninth. After giving up a solo home run to Auburn’s Lucas Steele to make it 3-2, Wilson recorded the next out before Earley turned to closer Clayton Freshcorn. Thompson countered by pinch-hitting Deric Fabian, but Freshcorn retired him to end the game.
Texas A&M secured the win and kept its postseason hopes alive. Auburn left five runners on base in the loss.
Tilly’s record fell to 3-3 with a 5.25 ERA, while Lamkin improved to 5-7.
Texas A&M’s Jace LaViolette Leaves Game With Injury
Jace LaViolette leaving today’s game against Auburn after being hit in the hand by a pitch
Absolutely BRUTAL break for the Aggies. pic.twitter.com/ibqQbfpMtg
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) May 22, 2025
Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley confirmed after the game that star outfielder Jace LaViolette broke his hand and will be out for the remainder of the SEC Tournament. “He got an X-ray, he broke his hand, so he’ll be out,” Earley said, adding that the staff is exploring the possibility of using LaViolette as a pinch runner if medically safe. “We’re going to see what we’re going to do with it… maybe if we can get this done, we might be able to get him back for the postseason.”
Jace LaViolette is in the dugout with his entire hand and wrist wrapped up heavily. No update yet but a HUGE loss for the #Aggies in any capacity.
Everyone knows what Laviolette means to this Texas A&M team on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/iK6cMEUSys
— Harrison Cordell Fant (@Fantavious9) May 22, 2025
Kent said the team has responded to LaViolette’s absence by leaning on one another and staying positive throughout the dugout. “When we have injuries like Sorrell or like Jace, the chemistry and the joy and the positive energy in the dugout helps us overcome that,” he said.
Earley echoed that sentiment and credited the team’s culture for keeping them focused down the stretch. “I’ve said it a ton, but everyone cares,” he said. “There’s a ton of care in our locker room… Our problem throughout the year has not been playing clean baseball. We’ve got a bunch of guys that love each other.”
2025 SEC Baseball Tournament Schedule
All Game Start Times Are Eastern Daylight Time
*Second Game Of Each Session Will Begin Approximately 30 Minutes After The Conclusion Of First Game
Tuesday-Sunday, May 20-25
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, Ala.
Tuesday, May 20 – First Round
Game 1: No. 9 Alabama 4, No. 16 Missouri 1 – Final
*Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma 5, No. 13 Kentucky 1 – Final
Game 3: No. 10 Florida 11, No. 15 South Carolina 3 – Final
Wednesday, May 21 – Second Round
Game 4: No. 14 Texas A&M 9, No. 11 Mississippi State 0 – Final – First Round
Game 5: No. 8 Tennessee 15, No. 9 Alabama 10 – Final
*Game 6: No. 12 Oklahoma 3, No. 5 Georgia 2 – Final
Game 7: No. 10 Florida 1, No. 7 Ole Miss 3 – Final
Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinals
Game 8: No. 14 Texas A&M 3, No. 6 Auburn 2 – Final – Second Round
*Game 9: No. 8 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Texas – 4 p.m. – SECN
*Game 10: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt – 7 p.m. – SECN
Friday, May 23 – Quarterfinals
Game 11: No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Arkansas – 4 p.m. – SECN
*Game 12: No. 14 Texas A&M vs. No. 3 LSU – 7 p.m. – SECN
Saturday, May 24 – Semifinals
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 – 1 p.m. – SECN
*Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 – 4 p.m.- SECN
Sunday, May 25 – Championship Game
Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14 – 3 p.m. – ESPN2
SEC MLBPipeline.com Top 150 Draft Prospects
No. 7 – OF – Jace LaViolette – Texas A&M
No. 8 – RHP – Kyson Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 9 – LHP – Kade Anderson – Louisiana State
No. 10 – LHP – Liam Doyle – Tennessee
No. 16 – 2B – Gavin Kilen – Tennessee
No. 20 – OF/C – Ike Irish – Auburn
No. 24 – SS – Wehiwa Aloy – Arkansas
No. 28 – OF – Max Belyeu – Texas
No. 33 – RHP – Riley Quick – Alabama
No. 35 – 1B/3B – Andrew Fischer – Tennessee
No. 36 – OF/3B – Ethan Petry – South Carolina
No. 44 – LHP – Zach Root – Arkansas
No. 54 – SS/3B – Dean Curley – Tennessee
No. 55 – RHP – A.J. Russell – Tennessee
No. 60 – OF – Charles Davalan – Arkansas
No. 66 – 2B – Daniel Dickinson – Louisiana State
No. 69 – RHP – Marcus Phillips – Tennessee
No. 72 – LHP – J.D. Thompson – Vanderbilt
No. 78 – RHP – Chase Shores – Louisiana State
No. 79 – LHP- Jared Spencer – Texas
No. 90 – 1B – Jared Jones – Louisiana State
No. 99 – LHP – Justin Lamkin – Texas A&M
No. 100 – OF – RJ Austin – Vanderbilt
No. 101 – C – Easton Carmichael – Oklahoma
No. 102 – LHP – Pico Kohn – Mississippi State
No. 113 – RHP – Nate Snead – Tennessee
No. 116 – RHP – Mason Morris – Mississippi
No. 117 – SS – Jalin Morris – Texas
No. 123 – OF/1B – Tre Phelps – Georgia
No. 131 – SS – Colby Shelton – Florida
No. 133 – RHP – Malachi Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 141 – 3B – Brent Iredale – Arkansas
