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Jace LaViolette to play through broken hand in SEC Tournament
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Jace LaViolette has been a key slugger for Texas A&M all season long. Unfortunately, he left Thursday’s SEC Tournament action after getting hit by a pitch on the hand, and head coach Michael Earley later confirmed it was a broken left hand injury for the star slugger.
Shortly after the game, it was reported that there was a chance LaViolette could return for the NCAA Tournament, should the Aggies make it into the final field. That prognosis has since been aggressively updated on Friday.
According to Ryan Brauninger with TexAgs, LaViolette is now expected to play in the Friday night matchup vs. LSU. Brauninger indicated that LaViolette’s injury cannot worsen, so it is mainly a pain management situation for the slugger.
The SEC Network crew working the Ole Miss-Arkansas game corroborated that report, indicating LaViolette will be the DH and bat 3rd for the Aggies. Texas A&M’s status report for Friday had featured LaViolette as a game-time decision, and he will give it a go with the season potentially on the line for the Aggies.
It’s still unclear where Texas A&M might sit for the NCAA Tournament after a disappointing regular season for the preseason No. 1 team and popular College World Series pick. A win over LSU would certainly help their case, and LaViolette will do what he can to help his team advance.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
