Aggie Baseball Set for Opening Day
Feb 11, 2004 | Baseball
February 11, 2004
No. 21 Texas A&M opens the 2004 baseball campaign with a three-game set against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this weekend at Olsen Field. The Friday and Saturday games are scheduled for 3 p.m., while Sunday's first pitch will be at 2 p.m.
Texas A&M head coach Mark Johnson leads the Aggie nine onto the field for opening day for the 20th time. In his 19 previous seasons as the A&M skipper, Johnson has accumulated a record of 804-384-2, an average of 42.4 wins per season.
After ending the 2003 season with a trip to the NCAA Regional Finals and a 45-19 record, Texas A&M finished the season ranked as high as No. 14 nationally.
The Aggies return seven position starters but will rely on some new arms on the mound. Graduation and the 2003 draft stripped the pitching staff of 40 of last season's 45 pitching victories.
Zack Jackson, a left-handed junior transfer from the University of Louisville, will be starting on the mound for the Aggies on opening day. Right-handers Justin Moore and Robert Ray will toe the rubber to start the Saturday and Sunday games, respectively.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will counter on the mound with Scott Walker, Mike Hatfield, and Trey Hearne.
A&M-Corpus Christi enters the series with a record of 1-2 after a three-game series with Texas State last weekend. The Islanders won the first game, 6-5, before dropping the next two 6-5 and 17-5.
Texas A&M has an all-time opening day record of 66-30-5. In Johnson's 19 seasons, the Aggies have won 14 times on opening day and have a 12-1 record when they open at Olsen Field.
In last season's opener, Justin Ruggiano belted a two-run homer over the right-field wall to earn the Aggies a dramatic 6-5 victory over A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Aggies have an all-time record of 3-0 against the Islanders.
Gates will open one hour and 30 minutes prior to first pitch. Tickets can be purchased at the Olsen Field ticket office or in advance at the Texas A&M Athletic Ticket Office located in the Zone in the North end of Kyle Field. Fans can also call the ticket office at (979) 845-2311 or (888) 99-AGGIE.
NOTES: Former Yale first baseman, College World Series participant and the 41st President of the United States George Bush will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day...There will also be a flyover featuring a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons piloted by Major Mike "Smitty" Smith '89 and Major Christiaan "Phantom" Sartain '90.
