March 18, 2004
The ninth-ranked Texas A&M baseball team will open the Big 12 Conference portion of its schedule this weekend with a three-game split series against Baylor. The opener will be played at Olsen Field on Friday, before the series shifts to the Baylor Ballpark on Saturday and Sunday. The Aggies, off to their best start since 1993, enter the series with a record of 20-2 after a pair of lopsided wins over Lamar and Sam Houston earlier in the week. Baylor comes into the series with a mark of 6-13 after beating Texas State on Tuesday.
SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, March 19 Baylor at Texas A&M 7 p.m. Olsen Field Saturday, March 20 Texas A&M at Baylor 6 p.m. Baylor Ballpark Sunday, March 21 Texas A&M at Baylor 2 p.m. Baylor Ballpark
RECORDS AND RANKINGS
Team Record BBAm NCBWA ColBB USA/ESPN Texas A&M 20-2 9 13 12 12 Baylor 6-13 NR NR NR NR
LISTEN TO AGGIE BASEBALL ON THE RADIO
Fans who are unable to attend Texas A&M baseball games can listen to all the action live on AM-1620 WTAW. Airtime for all games will be 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
The baseball broadcasting team features legendary broadcaster and "The Voice of the Aggies" Dave South. Joining Dave in the booth will be WTAW sports director Tom Turbiville, baseball media relations director Chuck Glenewinkel and frequent contributor to A&M sports broadcasts Will Johnson.
WATCH AGGIE BASEBALL ON THE WEB
Fans can watch all home and select away Aggie baseball games this season live on-line through Aggie Ultimate Access, a subscription service of AggieAthletics.com. Membership to AUA is $4.95 a month or $49 per year and includes video highlights, features and behind-the-scenes access from football, basketball and baseball, as well as the live baseball games.
Fans can also pay on an a-la-carte basis for $3.95 per game, which includes just the live game coverage. Sign up at AggieAthletics.com.
TICKETS TO AGGIE BASEBALL
Fans can purchase season and individual tickets for all Texas A&M Athletic events by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at (979) 845-2311 or (888) 99-AGGIE. Fans can also purchase ticket on-line at www.12thManFoundation.com.
LISTEN TO THE MARK JOHNSON DAILY SHOW
Every Monday through Friday, Aggie baseball fans can listen to the Mark Johnson Daily Show to get the latest information and analysis straight from the source. The show is hosted by Dave South and airs on AM-1150 WTAW at 7:20 a.m. and is replayed everyday at 5:20 p.m. on AM-1620 WTAW.
POSSIBLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
GAME 1: Friday, March 19 - 7 p.m. (Olsen Field)
Baylor: Sean Walker, RHP (0-3, 3.25) vs. A&M: Zach Jackson, LHP (5-0, 2.67)
GAME 2: Saturday, March 20 - 6 p.m. (Baylor BP)
Baylor: Mark McCormick, RHP (1-2, 3.15) vs. A&M: Justin Moore, RHP (3-0, 2.59)
GAME 3: Sunday, March 21 - 2 p.m. (Baylor BP)
Baylor: Trey Taylor, LHP (2-3, 3.19) vs. A&M: TBD
TEXAS A&M vs. BAYLOR HISTORY
All-Time Series Record: A&M leads, 164-120-4
Since the Start of the Big 12 in 1997:
Overall: BU leads, 12-8
At Olsen Field: BU leads, 5-4
In Waco, Texas: BU leads, 7-3
Neutral Site: A&M leads, 1-0
Series Notes:
- A&M head coach Mark Johnson has an all-time record of 43-16 against Baylor.The Aggies won their first 17 games against Baylor with Johnson at the helm. Since then, the Aggies have a 26-16 advantage.
- Only Texas has played more games against the Aggies than Baylor. The series started in 1904 - and 100 years later - is one of the most hotly contested rivalries in college baseball.
- The Aggies and Bears usually draw a crowd when the two team play each other on the diamond. Four of the top 15 crowds in Olsen Field history have been when Baylor is in town. In 1999, 8,230 fans (3rd largest paid attendance in A&M baseball history) saw the two teams play. Olsen Field has drawn more than 7,000 fans on four seperate occasions when Baylor and A&M crossed the lines.
- Steve Smith served as a graduate assistant on Mark Johnson's staff at Texas A&M during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. Smith left A&M to serve as an assistant coach under Ron Polk at Mississippi State. Johnson was an assistant for Polk at Mississippi State.
- Baylor assistant coach Steve "Hoot" Johnigan played at Texas A&M in 1984 and 1985. When he left Aggieland, his career batting avergae of .352 was second on the all-time list.