COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Matt Kent threw seven shutout innings, Nick Banks hit a two-run homer and Texas A&M topped Texas Southern 5-0 in the opening round of the College Station Regional on Friday night.
Kent (8-1) allowed six hits and walked one while tying his career high with nine strikeouts for the Aggies (46-11).
Banks busted open a scoreless game in the fourth inning with a blast over Blue Bell Park's right-field bullpen against Ryan Rios (6-2). Mitchell Nau led off the inning with a double, and scored on Banks' sixth homer this season.
The Aggies escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth when Banks made a sliding catch in right field with two outs, ending a great scoring chance for Texas Southern (31-18).