OMAHA, Neb. — The Texas A&M Aggies are two wins away from their first ever baseball national championship and one former Coastal Bend product has been a huge reason why.
Calallen graduate Justin Lamkin has appeared in two of Texas A&M's three games. Lamkin has started both of the Aggies' wins over the Florida Gators, including earning the win in the game that set A&M to the championship round. Lamkin has thrown eight shutout innings with 15 strikeouts over the two appearances.
Lamkin says he's received plenty of texts and messages on social media from people in his hometown after his dominating performance in Omaha.
"I love Corpus. Grew up there my whole life," Lamkin told our sister station KAGS-TV Friday. "Obviously gotten a lot of support this past week from friends, family, guys I grew up playing with and old coaches. It's just awesome getting all those messages and knowing that they're still supporting."
Texas A&M Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle said there's a good chance we'll see Lamkin in the championship series against Tennessee, although ace Ryan Prager will get the nod against the Volunteers Saturday. Former Ray Texan Jack Bell also made an appearance in Texas A&M's first game against Florida last Saturday, flying out in his lone at-bat in the ninth inning.
The Aggies have another Coastal Bend graduate as well, but this one on the coaching staff. Assistant strength and conditioning coach Roman Gomez is an Alice Coyote.
#3 Texas A&M will face the top-ranked Volunteers in a best-of-three series beginning with Game 1 Saturday night at 6:30 PM (ESPN).