May 08, 2008
The top two teams in the Big 12 will battle it out this weekend when first-place and fifth-ranked Texas A&M (41-8, 18-3) heads to Lincoln for a showdown with second-place and fifth-ranked Nebraska (36-8-1, 15-5-1). First pitch of the three-game series will take place Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Haymarket Park.
The Aggies enter the weekend on a 15-game Big 12 win streak and have won 24 of their last 26 overall. The Huskers, meanwhile, have won four straight and 12 of their last 14.
Fans can listen to every pitch locally on the flagship home of Texas A&M Athletics, News/Talk 1620 WTAW. Dave South, Scott Clendenin and Chuck Glenewinkel call the action all season long. All broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
Free live video of all three games will be available, courtesy the University of Nebraska, on the new Aggies All-Access.
In addition, Saturday's game will be televised live in the state of Nebraska on NET Sports and will air nationally on a tape-delay basis Sunday afternoon on CBS College Sports.
#5 Texas A&M AGGIES (41-8, 18-3 Big 12) at #5 Nebraska HUSKERS (36-8-1, 15-5-1 Big 12)
Friday, May 9 ?* 6:35 p.m. CDT
Saturday, May 10 ?* 2:05 p.m. CDT
Sunday, May 11 ?* 1:05 p.m. CDT
Hawks Field at Haymarket Park (8,486) ?* Lincoln, Nebraska
TELEVISION: CBS College Sports (tape-delay, Sat game only)
FREE LIVE VIDEO: Aggies All-Access (all games, courtesy huskers.com)
RADIO: WTAW-AM 1620
SATELLITE RADIO: Sirius Ch 127 (Sat & Sun, Nebraska broadcast)
GAMETRACKER: aggieathletics.com
ticket information
RESERVED: SOLD OUT
ADULT GEN. ADMISSION: $7
YOUTH/SENIORS GEN. ADMISSION: $5
TICKET OFFICE: (800) 8-BIGRED
TICKET WEBSITE: www.huskers.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY
A&M - #30 Brooks Raley (Fr., LHP, 6-0, 3.70 ERA)
NU - #23 Johnny Dorn (Sr., RHP, 5-1, 2.69 ERA)
SATURDAY
A&M - #50 Barret Loux (Fr., RHP, 4-1, 4.28 ERA)
NU - #14 Thad Weber (Sr., RHP, 8-2, 3.75 ERA)
SUNDAY
A&M - #13 Clayton Ehlert (So., RHP, 6-2, 2.82 ERA)
NU - Aaron Pribanic (Jr., RHP, 3-3, 4.16 ERA)
LEADING OFF...
?* The Aggies' No. 5 national ranking (USA Today) is the highest since May 24, 1999, when Texas A&M was ranked second, fifth and sixth in the three major polls.
?* A&M became the 17th team in school history to win 40 games in a season, and the fastest to do so in NCAA Division I baseball in ?™08.
?* At 40-8, the 2008 Aggies became the fourth-fastest to reach 40 victories in school history (48 games), trailing the 1989 (41), 1993 (46) and 1988 (46) squads.
?* A&M is 10-2 away from home this year and has won nine straight road games for the first time since 1989.
?* The Aggies?™ 22 hits on Tuesday at Sam Houston State were the most in a game since a 22-hit effort against Clemson in game one of the NCAA Super Regional at Olsen Field on June 4, 1999?...it was A&M?™s seventh 20-hit game in the last 10 seasons?... the Aggies have now reached double-figure hits in 19 of their last 26 games and 32 of 49 overall.
?* With 61 home runs on the season, the 2008 squad became just the 12th in school history to reach the 60-home run mark.
?* A&M pitching has fanned eight or more batters in 32 of 49 games (65 percent).
?* The Aggie bullpen is 19-2 on the year with 13 saves and a 3.29 ERA, and is holding opponents to a .251 average.
?* The Aggies are 51-7 in regular-season non-conference games over the last two seasons.
?* The Aggies have played in front of two stadium-record crowds in 2008?-April 29 at TCU's Lupton Stadium (4,294) and May 6 at Sam Houston's Don Sanders Stadium (1,812).
?* At 18-3, A&M is off to its best-ever "start" in Big 12 play.
?* Texas A&M has set a new school and league record with 15 consecutive Big 12 victories...the Aggies have not lost a conference game since March 23 at Oklahoma State.
?* A&M has swept five consecutive conference series (Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri) for the first time in school history.
?* A&M has won 26 of its last 27 mid-week contests...an April 15 loss to Rice snapped a string of 23 consecutive mid-week victories dating back to April, 2006.
?* The Aggies will play six of their final eight games of the regular season away from home.
?* A&M is 4-1 against ranked opponents in 2008.
?* Of A&M's eight losses on the season, five have been by two or fewer runs.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M is 41-8 overall and leads the Big 12 with an 18-3 record. The Aggies have won 24 of their last 26, including five straight sweeps in league play?-most recently over No. 4 Missouri this past weekend?-and are coming off a 13-9 win over Sam Houston State Tuesday in Huntsville.
A&M is hitting .330 and averages 8.1 runs per game. The offense has pounded out 175 extra-base hits (88 doubles, 26 triples and 61 home runs) while stealing 67 bases.
Senior third baseman Dane Carter (.411, 8 HR, 54 RBI) leads the country in triples (8) and ranks at the top of both the team and Big 12 charts in numerous offensive categories. He has hit safely in 41 of the team's 49 games in 2008. Junior shortstop Jos?© Duran (.396, 4 HR, 50 RBI) is riding a 19-game hit streak and tops the Big 12 in hits. Junior first baseman Luke Anders (.378, 13 HR, 45 RBI) leads the team in home runs and has raised his average 60 points over the last month, while senior Darby Brown (.353, 9 HR, 53 RBI) is second on the squad in RBI. Two other starters (Kyle Colligan and Brian Ruggiano) are hitting over .325 for the year.
On the mound, the Aggies boast a 3.76 ERA, second-best in the Big 12. A&M pitching is averaging 8.33 strikeouts per nine innings and is holding opposing hitters to a .254 average. Junior Kyle Thebeau (5-2, 3 saves) features a team- and Big 12-best 1.56 ERA, wophomore Travis Starling (22 appearances, 7-0, 3.78 ERA) leads the squad in victories and has a team-best nine saves. Weekend starters Brooks Raley, Barret Loux and Clayton Ehlert have combined for a 16-3 record and 3.65 ERA. The Aggie bullpen has been strong on the season, posting a 19-2 record, 13 saves, 3.29 ERA and .251 opponent average.
A QUICK GLANCE: NEBRASKA
Nebraska is 36-8-1 on the season and sits 2 ?? games behind Texas A&M in the Big 12 at 15-5-1. The Huskers have won four straight and 12 of their last 14, and have not played since taking a pair from Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend in a rain-shortened series in Lincoln.
NU hits .284 as a team, with 25 home runs and 267 RBI, and is averaging 6.56 runs per game. The Huskers lead the league in both pitching (3.46 team ERA) and defense (.972 fielding percentage).
Six players hit over .300. Leading the way are senior C Mitch Abieta (.360, 7 HR, 34 RBI), junior OF Nick Sullivan (.328, 3 HR, 30 RBI) and senior 2B Jake Opitz (.313, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 10 SB).
On the mound, the starting rotation of seniors Johnny Dorn and Thad Weber and junior Aaron Pribanic have combined for a 16-6 record and a 3.48 ERA in 2008. In the bullpen, Dan Jennings (5-0, 2.44), Zach Herr (3-0, 2.96) and Mike Nesseth (3-1, 4.12) each have four saves on the season.
Mike Anderson is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Nebraska baseball program with a record of 250-108-1.
SERIES HISTORY
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Texas A&M, 19-18, with each team winning 18 times since the formation of the Big 12 in 1997. Some series notes...
?* The teams met only once prior to the formation of the Big 12, a 21-4 win by the Aggies at Olsen Field in 1989.
?* Over the course of 37 meetings, the schools are separated by a total of four runs...A&M has outscored Nebraska overall, 202-198.
?* The teams split four meetings in 2007...Texas A&M won last year's regular-season series at Olsen Field, but dropped a meeting in the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City.
?* Texas A&M has won two series against Nebraska in Lincoln, in 1998 and again in 2004...the Huskers have taken just one in College Station (2005).
?* A&M is 2-6 all-time at Haymarket Park, which opened in 2002.
?* 16 games have been decided by one run or less.
?* The Huskers are the only team A&M has not beaten at the Big 12 Championship (0-3 all-time).
SAM HOUSTON REVIEW
No. 5 Texas A&M hit four home runs and tallied a season-high 22 hits to power past Sam Houston State, 13-9, Tuesday night before an all-time record crowd of 1,821 fans at Don Sanders Stadium in Huntsville.
Leading 4-3 entering the seventh, the Aggies scored nine runs in the final three frames and withstood a six-run Bearkat ninth to earn the victory. Luke Anders and Dane Carter each hit three-run home runs on the night, with Kyle Colligan adding a two-run shot and Brodie Greene a solo blast.
The Aggies (41-8), who posted their most hits in a game since 1999, won their ninth straight road game for the first time in 19 years. The Bearkats, meanwhile, saw a 10-game home win streak snapped and fell to 30-20.
Scott Migl (3-2) picked up the win, going 5 innings and allowing seven hits, three runs (one earned) while walking one and fanning two. Hank Robertson, Kyle Thebeau and Michael Heard combined for 2 innings of one-hit, shutout relief.
WALKING THE STAGE
Five members of the Texas A&M baseball team are scheduled to receive their diplomas this weekend in commencement ceremonies at Reed Arena. Four are on this weekend's trip to Nebraska.
congratulations, graduates!
STUDENT-ATHLETE DEGREE
Daman Aaron* B.S., Ag Leadership & Development
Darby Brown* B.S., Ag Leadership & Development
Blake Rampy* B.S., Ag Leadership & Development
Joey Register B.S., Ag Leadership & Development
Brian Ruggiano* B.S., Ag Leadership & Development
* in Lincoln
FIRST TO 40
Teams use "benchmark" wins (10, 20, 30, 40, etc.) as one way to measure success throughout the course of a season.
At 40-8, the 2008 Aggies became the 17th team in school history to reach the coveted 40-win plateau, and reached it faster than all but three previous teams...
fastest to 40 wins, school history
YEAR GAMES RECORD
1. 1989 41 40-1
2. 1993 46 40-6
1988 46 40-6
4. 2008 48 40-8
In addition, Texas A&M became the first Division I team to reach 40 victories in 2008...
most victories, ncaa division I (as of May 5)
SCHOOL RECORD (thru 5/4) WIN PCT.
Texas A&M 40-8 .833
Miami (Fla.) 39-5 .886
Florida State 39-7 .848
North Carolina 38-8 .826
Coastal Carolina 38-11 .776
Arizona State 37-8 .822
San Diego 37-13 .740
HURTS SO GOOD
With 74 hit batsmen in 2008, this year's Aggies are one shy of and on pace to shatter the school's single-season hit-by-pitch record, set in 2007...
most hit batsmen, single season
HBP YEAR
1. 75 2007
2. 74 2008
3. 62 2003
4. 55 2002
5. 52 2000
Not surprisingly, three Aggies rank in the top six of the all-time single-season chart, with seven regular season games remaining...
most times hit by pitch, single season
No. HBP Player Year
1. 20 Justin Pouk 2003
2. 17 Luke Anders 2008
3. 15 Travis Wong 2002
4. 13 Darby Brown 2008
12 Luke Anders 2007
6. 11 Kyle Colligan 2008
11 Craig Stinson 2007
THROWIN' UP ZEROS
Texas A&M's 15-0 shutout of fourth-ranked Missouri on April 27 was the 10th by the Aggie pitching staff in Big 12 play, and the first since 2004.
In addition, it was the biggest shutout win ever for A&M in Big 12 action and was the Aggies' first blanking of a ranked opponent in league action.
big 12 shutouts, A&M history (10)
OPPONENT DATE SCORE
(#4) Missouri April 26, 2008 15-0
Kansas State May 15, 2004 8-0
Missouri April 23, 2004 1-0
at Kansas April 10, 2004 4-0
Kansas April 6, 2001 8-0
at Kansas State March 24, 2001 1-0
vs Kansas State April 9, 1999 3-0
at Oklahoma State March 13, 1998 8-0
Kansas April 27, 1997 8-0
Nebraska April 13, 1997 3-0
Some notes on the win:
?* It marked the largest shutout win in a conference game for A&M since a 15-0 defeat of Arkansas in 1974.
?* It tied a school record for largest margin of victory in a Big 12 game...the Aggies defeated Iowa State, 19-4, at Olsen Field on April 5, 1997. A&M's largest wins in Big 12 play:
largest margin of victory, Big 12 games only
OPPONENT DATE MARGIN SCORE
(#4) Missouri April 26, 2008 15 15-0
Iowa State April 5, 1997 15 19-4
at Iowa State March 26, 2000 14 15-1
Kansas State Feb. 25, 2000 14 19-5
at Kansas State April 13, 2003 13 16-3
at Iowa State March 25, 2000 13 14-1
Iowa State March 7, 1999 13 14-1
?* It marked the largest margin of victory in a conference game since the Aggies defeated Texas, 25-6, on April 30, 1995 in Austin in a Southwest Conference matchup.
ROLLIN' IN BIG 12 PLAY
Texas A&M has won 15 consecutive conference games for the first time in school history. This season's string began with a 13-6 win over Kansas on March 28.
longest big 12 win streaks, A&M history
YEAR GAMES SPAN
1. 2008 15 Mar 28-
2. 1997 9 Mar 29-Apr 18
3. 1999 7 Mar 28-Apr 11
1998 7 Apr 18-May 2
5. 2003 6 Apr 5-18
1999 6 Feb 26-Mar 7
15 STRAIGHT LEAGUE WINS SETS NEW SCHOOL, Big 12 RECORD
Texas A&M's 15-game Big 12 win streak set not only the program's all-time record for consecutive conference victories, but became the new Big 12 standard.
A&M's 15-0 shutout of Missouri on April 26 gave the Aggies 14 Big 12 wins in a row, eclipsing the previous league record of 13 straight victories set by the 2000 Nebraska squad.
Until an 11-inning win over Baylor on April 20, it had been 34 years since an Aggie baseball team and rattled off a dozen straight wins in league play...
longest conference win streaks, A&M history
GAMES YEAR
1. 15 2008
2. 12 1974
12 1971
Some notes on A&M's 15-game Big 12 win streak:
?* Aggies are hitting .357 with 25 home runs and 140 RBI, averaging 9.9 runs per game and fielding at a .983 clip.
?* The pitching staff sports a 4.43 ERA and is holding opponents to 4.7 runs per game.
?* A&M has scored 10 or more runs in nine of the 15 games.
?* Six of the 15 have been decided by two runs or less, with three going into extra innings.
?* Ten of the games have been played at Olsen.
?* Nine of the wins have been of the come-from-behind variety.
?* Included in the streak were the Aggies' first-ever sweep of Oklahoma, first Big 12 sweep of Baylor and first three-game Big 12 sweep of Missouri.
DELIVERING WHEN IT COUNTS
The 2008 Aggie baseball team is making a strong case as one of the best Big 12 hitting teams in school history.
With six of the 27 scheduled league games remaining, this year's squad already ranks near the top of the school's Big 12 single-season offensive charts...
most home runs, big 12 single season
HOME RUNS GAMES YEAR
1. 56 29 1999
2. 49 30 1998
3. 35 30 1997
4. 33 21 2008
33 26 2007
most runs batted in, big 12 single season
RBI GAMES YEAR
1. 210 29 1999
2. 206 30 1998
3. 200 30 1997
4. 174 21 2008
highest batting average, big 12 single season
AVG GAMES YEAR
1. .331 30 1997
2. .328 21 2008
3. .314 29 1999
4. .303 27 2003
most runs scored, big 12 single season
RUNS GAMES YEAR
1. 227 29 1999
2. 222 30 1998
3. 218 30 1997
4. 185 21 2008
runs per game, big 12 single season
RPG GAMES YEAR
1. 8.81 21 2008
2. 7.83 29 1999
3. 7.40 30 1998
4. 7.27 30 1997
HOT BATS
The Texas A&M offense has produced seven hit streaks of 10 games or longer this season. Listed below are the streaks and the player's batting average, home run total and RBI count over the span of the streak...
longest hit streaks, 2008 season
NAME GAMES DATES AVG/HR/RBI
Jos?© Duran* 19 Apr 5-present .427/2/23
Blake Stouffer 19 Mar 28-Apr 26 .338/3/12
Darby Brown 17 Mar 14-Apr 8 .438/6/32
Dane Carter 16 Mar 18-Apr 12 .439/1/24
Dane Carter 16 Feb 23-Mar 15 .485/4/18
Jos?© Duran 11 Mar 14-Mar 30 .449/0/9
Kyle Colligan 10 Mar 25-Apr 8 .452/1/8
*active
THE COMEBACK KIDS
Texas A&M has provided fans some memorable comebacks thus far in the 2008 season. While the 13-12, 11-inning win at Baylor on April 20?-in which the Aggies scored six runs with one out in the ninth to tie the game?-will stand out, there have been several other clutch rallies...
memorable comebacks, 2008 season
OPPONENT (DATE) DEFICIT POINT IN GAME FINAL SCORE
N Colorado (Feb 22) 5-2 bot 4th W, 9-5
Ohio St (Feb 29) 5-1 bot 5th W, 8-5
at UTSA (Mar 25) 3-0 top 5th W, 5-4
at Kansas (Mar 29) 6-3 top 8th W, 9-6 (10)
at Kansas (Mar 30) 8-6 top 8th W, 10-8
K-State (Apr 5) 7-1 bot 6th W, 13-8
Baylor (Apr 20) 12-6 top 9th W, 13-12 (11)
Missouri (Apr 25) 8-1 bot 6th W, 9-8
Dallas Baptist (May 3) 4-1 bot 6th W, 5-4
Of Texas A&M's 41 victories this season, 22 are of the come-from-behind variety.
Texas A&M has trailed at some point in 11 of its 18 Big 12 wins in '08.
ANDERS NAMED BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Texas A&M junior first baseman Luke Anders (College Station, Texas) was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week by a select media panel on April 28.
Anders, who earned the first weekly honor of his career, hit .467 to pace Texas A&M to a 4-0 week that included a three-game sweep of No. 4 Missouri. Anders hit two home runs, drove in five and scored four runs, while getting hit once and drawing three walks.
In addition, he posted an .867 slugging percentage, a .579 on-base percentage and was perfect in the field in 25 chances at first base. Anders?™ two home runs came in the April 26 victory over the Tigers, marking his second multi-homer game of 2008.
CARTER NAMED TO HOWSER TROPHY WATCH LIST
Texas A&M senior Dane Carter (Graham, Texas) was one of 50 players named to the Dick Howser Trophy watch list, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced.
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is awarded to the top player in collegiate baseball and regarded by many as the sport?™s most prestigious award. The 2008 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Saturday, June 14.
He joined Missouri?™s Aaron Crow and Jacob Priday and Nebraska?™s Johnny Dorn as the only Big 12 representatives on the list.
STARLING NAMED BIG 12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Texas A&M sophomore Travis Starling (Yoakum, Texas) was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Pitcher of the Week by a select media panel on April 21.
Starling, who earned the first weekly honor of his career, picked up a win and a save to lead A&M to their first-ever Big 12 sweep of Baylor.
Called on to protect a 2-1, ninth-inning lead over the Bears on April 18 at Olsen Field, Starling retired Baylor?™s 4-5-6 hitters in order to pick up his eighth save of the year.
On April 20 in Waco, Starling threw a career-high four innings and picked up the victory in A&M?™s 13-12, 11-inning win over Baylor. Included in that outing was a stretch during the ninth and 10th innings where he retired six of seven, setting the stage for Texas A&M to score the game-winner the next frame.
STARLING NAMED TO STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Texas A&M sophomore Travis Starling was one of 45 relief pitchers named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ?Stopper of the Year Award? watch list by the organization on April 17. The award is given to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.
Finalists for the award will be announced May 28 with the winner named on June 4.
STOUFFER'S RISE
Senior All-American Blake Stouffer had a tough start to the 2008 campaign at the plate, but has played a big part in the Aggies' roll in recent weeks.
Stouffer saw a career-high 19-game hit streak come to an end on April 27, one on which the San Antonio native hit .338 with three home runs and 12 RBI.
Playing in front of his hometown fans at UTSA on March 25, Stouffer went 0-for-4 and saw his season average dip to .213. Since then, he has raised his batting average 58 points to .271.
BEARCLAW
One of the Olsen faithful's favorite walk-up songs belongs to junior 1B Luke Anders (Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw"), who may be taking the song's "Bearclaw" line to heart of late.
Over the last 26 games, which included a season-best 13-game win streak, Anders has hit a team-high .419, mashed seven doubles, a triple and 10 home runs while driving in 30. His slugging percentage over the span is .839.
CARTER's BIG YEAR
Senior third baseman Dane Carter is having a career season for Texas A&M.
The Graham, Texas native has a pair of 16-game hit streaks in 2008 and has hit safely in 41 of the Aggies' 49 contests overall. Carter has reached safely (hit or walk) in all but three games (April 13 vs Oklahoma, April 27 vs Missouri, April 29 at TCU), but he did drive in a run in each of those contests.
CARTER, CONTINUED
After struggling with injury during 2007, Dane Carter has had a tremendous '08 campaign. A comparison of his offensive numbers after playing in the same number of games he did last season...
dane carter: 2007 vs 2008
CATEGORY 2007 TOTALS 2008 (1st 37 GMS)
games played 37 37
games started 19 37
batting average .203 .432
hits 15 64
runs scored 14 41
doubles 2 9
triples 0 8
home runs 1 5
RBI 11 43
slugging pct. .270 .703
TURNING THE CORNER
Senior DH/1B Darby Brown had a tough start to the 2008 campaign, beginning the year 2-for-23 at the plate (.087 average).
With a mammoth home run off the top of the batter's eye in center field against Nicholls State on March 5, Brown has turned the corner in a big way, hitting .393 over the last 36 contests...
brown's turnaround
CATEGORY FIRST 10 GAMES LAST 39 GAMES
batting average .087 .393
hits-at bats 2-for-23 59-for-150
home runs 0 9
RBI 3 50
slugging pct. .174 .640
runs scored 5 28
DURAN STEPS UP
The Aggies knew entering 2008 that they would have to replace all-conference selection and third-round draft pick Brandon Hicks (.338, 10 HR, 59 RBI) at shortstop.
After a strong battle in the offseason, junior transfer Jos?© Duran won the opening-day nod, and has not disappointed. The Fort Worth native is near the top of the A&M offensive charts in nearly every category.
Not only has he hit safely in 41 of A&M's 49 games this year, Duran has posted multiple hits in 27 of those 41 (66 percent).
CHILDRESS GETS 100TH WIN
Texas A&M coach Rob Childress recorded his 100th career win, and 100th at A&M, in a 13-6 win at No. 19 Houston on April 8.
In the midst of his third season in Aggieland, Childress became the second-fastest coach in school history to reach the century mark. He ranks third behind only Mark Johnson and Tom Chandler on the Aggie charts in victories.
LEGGING IT OUT
Texas A&M has hit 26 triples over 49 games this season. A closer look at this accomplishment:
?* The Aggies eclipsed last season's triples total (20) on April 12...with eight triples in Big 12 play, A&M has already bested the 2007 total of three.
?* Texas A&M is six shy of tying the school's single season record of 32, set in 1982 and matched in 1989.
?* The Aggies set a school record in late February with three triples in each of three consecutive games (McNeese State, Ohio State, Arkansas). What makes this feat even more impressive is that the last time a Texas A&M team had three triples in ANY game before last week was on April 11, 1999, when the Aggies defeated Kansas State 7-2 in St. Joseph, Mo.?-a stretch of 519 games.
?* Senior third baseman Dane Carter had two triples in the Feb. 26 win over McNeese State, the first time an Aggie had two triples in one game since Chad Hudson on May 21, 1999 in a 10-3 win over Oklahoma in the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City.
?* Carter has eight triples on the season, just one shy of the single-season school record (9, Brian Thomas, 1993)...junior SS Jos?© Duran sits just one back with seven triples in '08.
TURN, TURN, TURN...TURN
Texas A&M tied a school record with four double plays in the Feb. 27 win over Nicholls State.
While the feat has been accomplished often, the last time the Aggies did turn four double plays in one game was against Clemson in the NCAA Super Regional championship on June 6, 1999 (499 games ago).
A STRONG PEN
The Texas A&M bullpen has been impressive in 2008.
A total of 14 Aggies have seen action in relief, posting a combined 3.29 ERA and picking up 19 wins and 13 saves. In 183 innings of work, opposing teams have managed 173 hits (.251 average) and 67 earned runs while striking out 190 times.
Of the players that have made more than one appearance out of the pen this year, five are holding opponents to an average of .200 or less in those outings.
POUNDING THE ZONE
Texas A&M pitchers have struck out 408 batters while walking 147 in their 441 innings of work thus far, or a 2.8 K/BB ratio. In 2007, A&M's pitching corps posted a 2.1 K/BB mark for the full season.
This season's staff became just the 17th in school history to strike out 400 or more batters in one year.
Aggie pitchers, who have fanned eight or more batters in 32 of the 49 games in 2008, are averaging 8.33 strikeouts per nine innings?-third-best in the Big 12.
It's not just one or two arms that are carrying the strikeout load, however. Six players have posted 35 or more Ks this spring, led by freshmen Barret Loux (63) and junior Kyle Thebeau (59).
AGGIES ON THE 'NET
For the sixth straight year, AggieAthletics.com will bring fans around the globe live video of Texas A&M baseball.
Fans will be able to watch, free of charge, all non-televised Aggie home games, along with selected road games, through the new Aggies All-Access.
If live video of an A&M game is not available, free live audio will be provided through All-Access.
The highly-popular Aggies All-Access is in its second season of bringing live game action, television shows, highlights and much more to A&M fans around the world. Aggies All-Access is the most-watched channel on the CSTV.com network.
2008 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
Texas A&M will be the defending champion at the 12th-annual Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship, scheduled for May 21-25 at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in downtown Oklahoma City.
The eight-team championship will be in a two-division, pool play format for the third straight season in 2008. The winner of each bracket will meet in the championship game, with the victor earning the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.
Oklahoma City and AT&T Bricktown Ballpark will be the host of the event through the 2011 season. For ticket information, contact the Oklahoma Redhawks at (405) 218-1000.