Texas A&M answered a rough start to the weekend with a much-needed 11-9 win over Mississippi State on Friday night, using a big night at the plate to even the series after dropping the opener 18-11.

Caden Sorrell drove the comeback. He went 3-of-5 with six RBIs and launched a two-run home run, finishing a single shy of the cycle as Texas A&M piled up 15 hits, three home runs and 15 RBIs in the win. Gavin Grahovac added a solo home run, and Blake Binderup connected for a three-run shot as the Aggies kept pressure on Mississippi State all night.

The result mattered because Texas A&M needed a response after surrendering 18 runs in the opener, and it got one against a Mississippi State pitching staff that entered the weekend ranked third in SEC team ERA. Even with Nico Partida still out because of injury and Aiden Sims absent because of tightness, the Aggies found enough production to stay alive in a series that now carries national seeding implications heading into the finale.

Texas A&M’s pitching path was far less clean. Weston Moss started and gave up three earned runs in two innings, Shane Sdao followed and allowed five earned runs in four innings, and Claytion Freshcorn finished the game by striking out five while giving up two hits. Mississippi State kept coming, but the Aggies’ offense had built enough of a cushion to survive the pressure.

The two teams will meet again Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network, with national seeding on the line in the series finale. After splitting the first two games with an 18-11 loss and an 11-9 win, Texas A&M now has a chance to leave the weekend with the kind of result that can shape the rest of its season.