March 19, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo.--The third-ranked Texas A&M baseball team returns to Big 12 play this weekend when the Aggies (13-7, 2-1) travel to Columbia to face the Missouri Tigers (9-10, 1-2).
First pitch at Taylor Stadium on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. Game two is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. with the finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Aggies enter the weekend on a three-game skid, falling in 10 innings at 9th-ranked Baylor Monday night before losing a pair to a red-hot New Mexico team mid-week at Olsen Field.
MU lost two of three at Texas to open Big 12 play last weekend, but bounced back in its lone game of the week with a 4-1 win over SIU-Edwardsville Wednesday at Taylor Stadium.
A&M has won five straight and six of the last seven against Mizzou, including a sweep last year in College Station and a series win in the last trip to Columbia in 2007.
Fans can listen to the action on WTAW-AM 1620 on Friday and Sunday. Saturday's game may be moved to Sports Radio 1150 The Zone pending the tip time of the men's basketball NCAA tournament game. All games can also be heard free of charge worldwide on aggieathletics.com and radioaggieland.com.
#3 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (13-7, 2-1) at MISSOURI TIGERS (9-10, 1-2)
Friday, March 20 • 6:30 PM
Saturday, March 21 • 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 22 • 1:00 PM
Taylor Stadium (2,200) • Columbia, Missouri
Television: None
Radio: WTAW-AM 1620*
Live Video (subscription): mutigers.com
Gametracker: aggieathletics.com
Free Live Audio: aggieathletics.com/radioaggieland.com
* Saturday's game may air on KZNE-AM 1150
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
FRIDAY: #30 Brooks Raley (So., LHP, 4-0, 2.08) vs. #44 Kyle Gibson (Jr., RHP, 3-1, 0.90)
SATURDAY: #18 Alex Wilson (Jr., RHP, 2-2, 2.16) vs. #41 Ian Berger (Sr., RHP, 1-2, 6.50)
SUNDAY: #50 Barret Loux (So., RHP, 0-0, 4.71) vs. #46 Nick Tepesch (So., RHP, 1-1, 5.04)
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youths and seniors, and can be purchased at the gate. For more information, please call the Mizzou Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
MORE ON MISSOURI
Missouri enters the weekend with a 9-10 overall record and sits a game behind the Aggies in the Big 12 standings at 1-2.
The Tigers, who got off to a slow start, have bounced back to win seven of their last 10, including a 4-1 win over SIU-Edwardsville Wednesday night.
The Tigers hit .259 as a team with eight home runs, 95 RBIs and 21 stolen bases, and average six runs per game. The pitching staff sports a 4.32 ERA and a .280 opponent batting average.
Tim Jamieson is in his 15th season as the head coach in Columbia. For more information on Missouri baseball, visit mutigers.com.
SERIES HISTORY
• Texas A&M leads the all-time series with Missouri, 36-24-1, and has won five straight. Since the formation of the Big 12 in 1997, the series is tied, 18-18.
• The Aggies have won seven of the 12 league series against Mizzou.
• A&M swept last year's series at Olsen Field, coming from behind to take game one, 9-8; blanking the Tigers, 15-0, in game two; and winning game three in 10 innings on a walk-off home run, 3-2 (recaps available at end of release)...the teams also met in the Big 12 Tournament with A&M posting a 6-2 win.
• In the Aggies' last visit to Columbia (2007), A&M took two of three...the Tigers have lost four of the last five series played between the schools in Columbia.
• The road team has won seven of the 12 Big 12 series, including victories in `06 and `07.
• 17 of the 35 meetings in league play have been decided by two runs or less.
• The teams have met three times in NCAA Regional play, with the last coming in 1988 (Starkville, Miss.).
Series Record: A&M leads, 36-24-1
A&M Streak: Won 5
in College Station*: A&M leads, 16-10
in Columbia*: series tied, 9-9
neutral sites*: A&M leads, 5-2
* since 1971
BIG 12 ERA (1997-present)
overall: tied, 18-18
in College Station: MU leads, 9-8
in Columbia: tied, 9-9
at Big 12 Tourney: A&M leads, 1-0
A&M vs MIZZOU, in BIG 12 SERIES
overall: Won 7, Lost 5
in College Station: Won 3, Lost 3
in Columbia: Won 4, Lost 2
A&M Streak: Won 2
UP NEXT
The Aggies return home to open a six-game homestand against UT Arlington on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:35 p.m.