Ryan Prager's Near No-Hitter Leads Aggies to College World Series Semifinals

OMAHA – Ryan Prager carried a no-hitter deep into the seventh inning, leading the No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team to a 5-1 win over the No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats in Monday's College World Series action at Charles Schwab Field.

The victory, which puts the Aggies at 2-0 in the College World Series for the first time in program history, puts them in a strong position to advance to the championship series. They need just one more win against the winner of tomorrow's elimination game between Florida and Kentucky to secure their spot.

Prager's no-hit bid was broken up by a single from Ryan Nicholson with two outs in the sixth inning, followed by a double from Nolan McCarthy. Prager (9-1) finished with a stellar performance, scattering two hits and one walk while striking out four over 6.2 innings. This effort marked the second-longest College World Series no-hit bid pitched at Charles Schwab Field.

The Aggies' offense erupted in the top of the sixth inning, scoring five runs. Jace LaViolette drew a leadoff walk, followed by a double from Jackson Appel to put two in scoring position. Hayden Schott then hit a two-run single, breaking the scoring seal. Ali Camarillo doubled to score Schott, and Kaeden Kent drove in two more runs with a single to stretch the lead to 5-0.

Kentucky threatened in the second inning, with Nick Lopez reaching on a throwing error and Mitchell Daly getting hit by a pitch. However, Prager managed to retire the next 10 Wildcats, escaping the inning unscathed and maintaining a string of 13 in a row.

Nicholson hit a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning, spoiling Texas A&M's attempt to add to its nation-leading tally of 11 shutouts.