March 2, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The fourth-ranked Texas A&M baseball team opens a seven-game homestand on Tuesday night when the Aggies (7-2) face Stephen F. Austin (3-4) in the first of a two-game series at Olsen Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. The series will wrap on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m.
A&M is coming off a two-win weekend at the Houston College Classic. The Aggies posted wins over No. 5 UC Irvine (9-2) and Houston (5-3), while dropping a 2-0 decision to No. 9 Rice on Saturday.
The Lumberjacks also went 2-1 over the weekend, defeating UT Arlington (12-6) and Texas-Pan American (10-7) while falling to Illinois (4-2).
Texas A&M is led offensively by sophomore third baseman Caleb Shofner (.542, HR, 7 RBI) and junior outfielder Dylan Petrich (.500, HR, 7 RBI). Senior first baseman Luke Anders and freshman shortstop Adam Smith have each homered twice and lead the team in RBIs with 11 and 10, respectively. As a squad, the Aggies are hitting .286 with 10 home runs and 14 stolen bases, and are averaging 7.9 runs per game.
The `Jacks are paced by senior Sean Meyers (.464, 8 RBI) and sophomore Joe Staley (.417, 3 RBI), and hit .303 as a team with two home runs, 41 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Stephen F. Austin is averaging 6.6 runs per game.
Junior Clayton Ehlert (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will get the start for A&M on Tuesday night and is scheduled to face SFA junior Ryan Priest (0-1, 9.00). True freshman Ross Hales (2-0, 1.04) will start Wednesday's game, while the Lumberjacks will counter with sophomore Jared West (0-0, 189.00).
Texas A&M leads the all-time series between the schools, 16-0. The Aggies won both meetings last year at Olsen Field by scores of 8-1 and 5-4.
Tickets are available at the gate or online at aggieathletics.com. Children 12 and under will be admitted free with a paid adult (limit four kids per adult) for both games as part of the Take Me Out to the Ballgame ticket promotion. Gates open 90 minutes prior to first pitch for all home games.
Fans can listen locally to both games on WTAW-AM 1620. Free live video of both games will also be available online at aggieathletics.com.