From staff and wire reports

HOOVER, Ala. — Hunter Haas hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning after striking out in each of his first three at-bats and No. 10 seed Texas A&M beat No. 3 LSU 5-4 on Friday night to advance to the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Haas’ homer traveled 365 feet and over the left-field fence.

Texas A&M (35-24) became the fourth double-digit seed to advance to the semifinals — with all three previous teams losing the next game. The Aggies, who reached the semifinals for a second consecutive season, play No. 4 and second-seeded Arkansas today.

Meanwhile, LSU will wait for Sunday and Monday to see if it will host a regional and who will be in it. The host sites for the NCAA regionals will be revealed at 7:30 p.m. Sunday while the 64-team field will be announced at 11 a.m. Monday on ESPN2.

“There’s a lot to be gained from being here, and we’ll use that to get ready for the NCAA Tournament,” said LSU head coach Jay Johnson. “I think our team has had a great regular season, to put ourselves in one of those spots where we’re going to be one of the eight that have an opportunity to host a regional and then host a super regional if we’re able to win the regional. It’s a credit to the players.

“We’ll get back to work when we get home and get ready to go for next Friday.”

The Aggies received their third quality start of the tournament with Will Johnston going six innings while surrendering three runs. Evan Aschenbeck (8-1) got the win after striking out four and allowing one earned run in three innings.

LSU (43-15) trailed by two entering the ninth inning before back-to-back hits brought the potential tying run to the plate. A wild pitch led to Hayden Travinski scoring. Texas A&M walked Jared Jones to put runners on the corners and Aschenbeck got a strikeout and a routine pop fly to end it.

LSU, which won two of three against the Aggies this season, finished 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

Both teams scored early, plating one run each in the second inning, before LSU started to pull away. Back-to-back doubles by Gavin Dugas and Brayden Jobert in the fourth snagged a 2-1 before Travinski extended the lead to 3-1 with an RBI double to the fence in the fifth.

“I thought today was: the game taketh away and it giveth,” said Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle. “I thought LSU had a grip on the game. (LSU starting pitcher Ty) Floyd was outstanding. They had runners on base.”

In the sixth inning, Griffin Herring took over on the mound for the Tigers, but the following frame spelled trouble for their bullpen as a walk and a double put two Texas A&M runners in scoring position.

The Aggies started to close to gap with an RBI sacrifice fly to make it 3-2 before they completely busted the game open. With one out and runners on first and second, LSU made a game-altering pitching change. Sam Dutton’s second pitch was crushed by Haas, flying over the left-field fence and bringing in three runs to supply Texas A&M with its first lead of the game, 5-3, and the only one it would need.

“I actually talked to Coach before the game about how awesome this league is and everyone is so good,” Haas said. “I expect (today) to be another really competitive game, and I’m looking forward to it.”

LSU quickly passed the ball over to Javin Coleman who loaded the bases with two singles and a walk before sealing the seventh inning.

LSU entered the ninth with the heart of its lineup due to bat with elimination on the line. Travinski started LSU’s last-ditch effort with a single and advanced to third on Cade Beloso’s double to right field. Aschenbeck, appeared rattled as a pitch got away from him, bringing in a run and then walking Jared Jones to put runners on the corners with one out. However, he settled down enough to ensure the next two outs, escaping the Tigers’ comeback attempt.

Beloso was 4-for-5 as the Tigers outhit the Aggies 12-7.

“We’ve got to get our health right, and then get the players’ minds right because playoff baseball is one pitch at a time,” Johnson said. “It’s not the team with the best players, it’s the team that plays the best, which we’ve done a lot of this year. I trust the guys that we have on the field. I trust them a lot, and I trust their care level and their character. I’m excited to get back to work with them after we get them a day or two off.”