Feb. 18, 2010
A&M Game Notes (PDF)
Seton Hall Game Notes (PDF)
vs
SETON HALL PIRATES (25-24 in 2009)
Friday, 6:35 PM • Saturday, 2:05 PM • Sunday, 12:05 PM
Olsen Field (7,053) • College Station, Texas
RADIO: WTAW-AM 1620 (Fri & Sun), KZNE-AM 1150 (Sat)
Will Johnson (Fri-Sat) and Dave South (Sun), play-by-play
Scott Clendenin, commentary
LIVE VIDEO: aggieathletics.com (free on Aggies All-Access)
LIVE AUDIO: aggieathletics.com • radioaggieland.com
LIVE STATS: aggieathletics.com
RANKINGS: A&M is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
SERIES HISTORY: Seton Hall leads, 1-0
LAST MEETING: SHU 14, A&M 5 (June 10, 1964 in Omaha, Nebraska)
AGGIE BASEBALL DIGITAL MEDIA
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FOLLOWING THE ACTION
A&M/SETON HALL SERIES NOTABLES
Texas A&M and Seton Hall have met just once on the baseball diamond, 46 years ago in the 1964 College World Series ... the Pirates won the game, 14-5, at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha ... the Aggies have seen sparse action against current members of the Big East with a combined 7-5 record ... A&M has faced Notre Dame (2-2), Rutgers (2-1), St. John's (2-0), South Florida (1-1) and Seton Hall (0-1), but has never played a game against Cincinnati, UConn, Georgetown, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Villanova or West Virginia ... Rutgers is the latest Big East team to travel to Olsen Field, when the Aggies took two of three from the Scarlet Knights in 2008.
MORE ON SETON HALL
Seton Hall (South Orange, New Jersey) returns 21 letterwinners, 15 position players and one starting pitcher from a 2009 squad that went 25-24 and finished ninth in the Big East at 13-14 ... the Pirates were picked to finish 10th in the Big East by the league's head coaches ... Rob Sheppard (Seton Hall '92) begins his seventh season as the head coach ... SHU has made 16 NCAA tournament appearances, with the last coming in 2001 ... Seton Hall is one of the oldest collegiate programs in the country, first playing baseball in 1863 ... for more information visit www.shupirates.com.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M hosts Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday night (6:35 p.m.) before heading to Waco for the QTI Baylor Classic, where the Aggies will face 2009 NCAA teams Western Kentucky, Baylor and Texas State.
NOTES AND NOTABLES
FRIDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER: #50 BARRET LOUX
Junior right-hander Barret Loux will get the ball in Friday's season opener ... it will mark the first opening-day start of Loux's Aggie career ... finished 2009 with a 3-3 record and 4.12 ERA ... ranked fourth on the staff with 62 strikeouts over 48 innings of work and held opposing hitters to a .226 average ... punched out at least six batters in six outings ... was dominant in outing at No. 1 Rice (April 14), scattering four hits, striking out nine and walking one in five innings while picking up second win of season ... earned first win of the year vs Kansas (March 29), striking out a career-high 11 and allowing five hits over 6 2/3 innings.
LOUX'S CAREER TOTALS
Year W-L ERA AP/GS CG IP H R ER BB SO AVG 2008 6-2 4.18 16/16 0 90.1 76 46 42 35 81 .227 2009 3-3 4.12 12/12 0 48.0 43 31 22 21 62 .226 Career 9-5 4.16 28/28 0 138.1 119 77 64 56 143 .227
SATURDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER: #36 Ross Stripling
Sophomore Ross Stripling is scheduled to make his first career start on Saturday ... emerged as a solid bullpen presence for the Aggies as a true freshman ... appeared in 13 games, all in relief, posting a 1-0 record and 2.51 ERA ... 13 relief outings ranked sixth on the staff .. allowed first earned run in his seventh appearance (March 18 vs New Mexico) ... struck out the first six batters he faced in his A&M career ... punched out 18 in just over 14 innings of work while walking just four ... earned first career win in relief against Utah (March 8) ... played summer ball with the San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Blues of the wood-bat Sierra Baseball League ... went 2-2 with a 1.96 ERA in 36.2 innings of work ... fanned 56 batters and walked just 12.
STRIPLING'S CAREER TOTALS
Year W-L ERA AP/GS SV IP H R ER BB SO AVG 2009 1-0 2.51 13/0 0 14.1 16 11 4 4 18 .276 Career 1-0 2.51 13/0 0 14.1 16 11 4 4 18 .276
SUNDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER: #24 Nick Fleece
Junior Nick Fleece is scheduled to make his first career start on Sunday ... led the pitching staff with 26 appearances, all in relief, and a team-best five saves ... finished the year with a 4-1 record and a 3.54 ERA, punching out 32 batters in 28 innings of work ... allowed a run in just five of his 26 relief outings ... strikeout-to-walk ratio was 4.0 ... averaged 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings ... named Big 12 Co-Pitcher of Week (March 30), also pulled in numerous national honors ... picked up two wins and two saves, gave up 1 hit in 6.1 IP of shutout relief ... factored in to decision in all five of A&M's wins from March 22-29 (save, win, save, win, save) ... began the season with 11 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings of relief.
FLEECE'S CAREER TOTALS
Year W-L ERA AP/GS SV IP H R ER BB SO AVG 2008 ------- did not see any action on the mound ------- 2009 4-1 3.54 26/0 5 28.0 28 11 11 8 32 .259 Career 4-1 3.54 26/0 5 28.0 28 11 11 8 32 .259
AGGIES PEGGED THIRD IN BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
Texas A&M was picked to finish third in a preseason vote of the league's head coaches.
Defending regular-season champion Texas (81) was a unanimous choice as the league favorite, followed by Kansas (69), the Aggies (64), Oklahoma (57), Oklahoma State (47), Baylor (39), Kansas State (29), Missouri (22), Nebraska (22) and Texas Tech (20). Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
2010 BIG 12 BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
School (1st) Points 1. Texas (9) 81 2. Kansas (1) 69 3. Texas A&M 64 4. Oklahoma 57 5. Oklahoma State 47 6. Baylor 39 7. Kansas State 29 8. Missouri 22 Nebraska 22 10. Texas Tech 20
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
On paper, Texas A&M will challenge itself with one of the country's toughest schedules in 2010.
According to boydsworld.com, the Aggies have the ninth toughest slate of games in the nation and second-toughest in the Big 12 as they take the field on February 19.
INTENDED STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
School Conference SoS 1. Baylor Big 12 113.3 2. UCLA Pac-10 112.2 3. Washington Pac-10 112.0 4. San Diego West Coast 112.0 5. USC Pac-10 111.4 6. Stanford Pac-10 111.0 7. Long Beach State Big West 110.9 8. Georgia SEC 110.9 9. Texas A&M Big 12 110.9 10. California Pac-10 110.7
Other Big 12 teams in the boydsworld.com SoS rankings: Texas Tech (11th), Kansas (19th), Texas (20th), Missouri (25th), Oklahoma (42nd), Oklahoma State (44th), Nebraska (51st), and Kansas State (57th).
MORE ON THE 2010 SCHEDULE
A whopping 13 teams on Texas A&M's 2010 schedule will be coming off NCAA tournament campaigns. Of the 13 squads who earned a berth in the field of 64 in '09, eight advanced at least to the regional finals, three to the super regional round and one-Texas-to the College World Series.
The Aggies will play a total of 31 games against NCAA tourney teams this spring.
NCAA TOURNEY TEAMS on 2010 SCHEDULE
2010 Opponent '09 Rec NCAA Round Western Kentucky 42-20 Regional Finalist Baylor 30-26 Regionals Texas State 41-17 Regionals Washington State 32-25 Regionals Missouri 35-27 Regionals Kansas 39-24 Regional Finalist TCU 40-18 Super Regionals Texas 50-16-1 CWS Finalist Rice 43-18 Super Regionals Oklahoma 43-20 Regional Finalist Sam Houston State 36-24 Regionals Oklahoma State 34-24 Regional Finalist Kansas State 43-18-1 Regional Finalist
WHAT'S BACK IN 2010: OFFENSE
The Aggies bring back five position starters in 2010, although three-Brodie Greene, Joe Patterson and Caleb Shofner-should see action at different spots when the season opens on February 19. Greene made the move from second base to center field, Shofner from third base to first base and Patterson from catcher to first base.
RETURNING POSITION STARTERS
Player Class '09 Pos. '10 Pos. Kevin Gonzalez Jr. C C Brodie Greene Sr. 2B CF Joe Patterson Sr. C/DH 1B/DH Caleb Shofner Jr. 3B 1B Adam Smith So. SS SS
A&M returns roughly just over half of its offense from 2009, which saw the squad smash 85 home runs, the fifth-best single-season total in school history, score an average of 6.9 runs per game and swipe 74 bases.
Top returnees on the offensive side include senior infielder and first-team All-Big 12 honoree Brodie Greene (.344, 11 HR, 35 RBI), senior designated hitter and second-team all-conference selection Caleb Shofner (.348, 7 HR, 42 RBI).
A look at some of the major offensive categories and how much of last season's output is back in 2010:
OFFENSE BACK IN 2010
Category '10 Ret. '09 Tot % Back Runs Batted In 225 382 59% Doubles 55 97 57% Home Runs 48 85 56% Hits 345 619 56% At Bats 1,113 2,079 54% Runs 216 423 51% Stolen Bases 21 74 28%
WHAT'S BACK IN 2010: PITCHING
The Aggies bring back 10 pitchers, including three starters, in 2010.
RETURNING PITCHERS IN 2010
Pitcher Class '09 App/St '09 Inn Ross Hales So. 19/10 76.2 Barret Loux Jr. 12/12 48.0 Clayton Ehlert Sr. 12/10 47.0 Nick Fleece Jr. 26/0 28.0 Shane Minks Sr. 19/0 22.1 Ross Stripling So. 13/0 14.1 Estevan Uriegas So. 18/0 11.2 Denny Clement So. 8/0 8.1 Steve Martin Jr. 2/0 1.1 Tyler Dyer Sr. 3/0 0.2
A&M also returns roughly just over half of its pitching totals from 2009, which saw the squad smash 85 home runs, the fifth-best single-season total in school history, score an average of 6.9 runs per game and swipe 74 bases.
The pitching staff brings back 21 wins and is led by junior right-hander Clayton Ehlert (5-2), junior RHP Barret Loux (3-3, 4.12) and sophomore LHP Shane Minks (1-1, 19 appearances), and sophomores Ross Stripling (1-0, 13 apps) and Estevan Uriegas (1-1, 3.09) highlight the rest of the returnees.
A look at some of the major pitching categories and how much of last season's output is back in 2010:
PITCHING TOTALS BACK IN 2010
Category '10 Ret. '09 Tot % Back Appearances 132 224 59% Victories 21 37 57% Starts 32 61 52% Strikeouts 282 568 50% Innings Pitched 258.1 539.2 48% Saves 5 13 38%
AGGIES IN THE 2009 DRAFT
Six members of the Texas A&M baseball team were selected in last June's Major League Baseball draft, with five signing professional contracts ... of the four underclassmen chosen, only Brodie Greene returned to play for the Aggies in 2010.
AGGIES IN 2009 MLB DRAFT
Player '09 Elig Round/Pick Club Alex Wilson* Jr. 2nd/77 Boston Brooks Raley* So. 6th/200 Chi Cubs Kyle Colligan* Sr. 12th/373 Chi Sox Luke Anders* Sr. 32nd/957 San Francisco Scott Migl* Jr. 34th/1031 Houston Brodie Greene Jr. 37th/1127 Philadelphia* signed professional contract
A&M leads the Big 12 with 83 players selected in the MLB draft since the league's formation in 1997 ... over the last 12 years, 32 Aggies have been taken in the first 10 rounds of the draft.
NEWCOMERS TO MAKE IMMEDIATE IMPACT
As is often the case in college baseball, the Aggies experienced a significant roster turnover following the 2009 season. Of the 32 players on this season's roster, 15 (or 47 percent) will be donning the maroon and white for the first time. A closer look at where all the new blood came from:
TRUE FRESHMEN (9) Corey Brooks, RHP Rafael Pineda, RHP Jake Feckley, RHP Parker Ray, INF/C Kyle Martin, RHP Michael Wacha, RHP Dylan Mendoza, LHP Brandon Wood, OF Tyler Naquin, OFSOPHOMORE TRANSFERS (2) Matt Juengel, INF John Stilson, RHP/INF
JUNIOR TRANSFERS (4) Gregg Alcazar, C Joaquin Hinojosa, OF/RHP Andrew Collazo, INF Kenny Jackson, INF
AGGIE FANS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST
Texas A&M and the Olsen Field faithful consistently rank among the nation's best in fan support.
Over the past 11 seasons, A&M ranks fifth nationally with over 1.77 million fans having passed through the turnstiles. In addition, the Aggies rank sixth in average attendance (4,656) since 1999.
Texas A&M has finished in the national top five in average attendance seven times since '99, and in total attendance seven times.
In fact, A&M joins LSU and Texas as the only programs in the country to draw at least 135,000 fans in each of the last 11 seasons.
TOTAL ATTENDANCE LEADERS (1999-2009)
School Total Average LSU 3.11 million 7,668 Texas 1.99 million 5,039 Mississippi State 1.90 million 5,576 Alabama 1.78 million 4,762 Texas A&M 1.77 million 4,656
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE LEADERS (1999-2009)
School Total Average LSU 3.11 million 7,668 Mississippi State 1.90 million 5,576 Texas 1.99 million 5,039 Arkansas 1.62 million 4,794 Alabama 1.78 million 4,762 Texas A&M 1.77 million 4,656
JUST FOR FUN: OLSEN OPENER WEATHER
Veteran Aggie baseball fans have come to expect that, no matter the temperature in the days leading up to Opening Day at Olsen Field, the stadium will be the coldest place in Texas come first pitch.
By request, meteorologist Rodney Harris from WGCL-TV in Atlanta looked up the weather conditions for first pitch at Olsen Field in each of the last 10 seasons.
The average game-time temperature over that stretch is a mild 58.8 degrees. The results:
OLSEN OPENING DAY WEATHER (SINCE 2000)
Date (Time) Temp Wind Condition 2/20/09 (6:35) 66 S 10 clear 2/22/08 (6:35) 57 NNE 10 clear 2/6/07 (4:00) 70 SW 13 sctd. clouds 2/10/06 (5:00) 47 NW 16 overcast 2/25/05 (7:00) 56 ENE 5 clear 2/14/04 (3:00) 39 NW 12 overcast 2/11/03 (3:00) 63 SSE 7 clear 2/12/02 (3:00) 63 S 8 clear 2/9/01 (3:00) 56 NW 15 m cloudy 2/8/00 (3:00) 71 calm clear
AGGIES ON THE TUBE
No stranger to the national spotlight, the Aggies have had 29 of their games televised either regionally or nationally over the last three years.
Texas A&M is scheduled to make six regular-season TV appearances during the 2010 regular season.
FOX Sports Net will broadcast the middle game of the annual Texas/Texas A&M showdown, scheduled for April 17 in College Station. First pitch has been moved to 5:35 p.m.
FOX College Sports, available on digital cable outlets across the country and on DirecTV, will broadcast the finale against the Longhorns one day later as well as the April 25 game against Oklahoma.
COX Sports Television will again broadcast two games from Olsen Field, beginning with the April 23 series opener against the Sooners. CST is available in most of Louisiana, parts of Texas and in Florida, northwest Arkansas, central Georgia and northern Virginia.
NET Sports, available in the state of Nebraska, will broadcast the Aggies' series opener against the Huskers at Haymarket Park on April 30.
As always, fans can get complete and up-to-date television broadcast information on aggieathletics.com.
TELEVISED GAMES IN 2010
Date Opponent Network April 17 (Sat) Texas FOX Sports Net April 18 (Sun) Texas FOX College Sports April 23 (Fri) Oklahoma COX Sports TV April 25 (Sun) Oklahoma FOX College Sports April 30 (Fri) at Nebraska NET Sports May 23 (Sun) Kansas State COX Sports TV
AGGIES ON THE 'NET
For the eighth straight season, 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 Aggies All-Access. If live video of an A&M game is not available, free live audio will be provided through All-Access. AggieAthletics.com is in its second year as an official partner of the CBS College Sports network.
RADIOAGGIELAND.COM: LISTEN ON-THE-GO
An exciting addition to Aggie baseball's online presence is the new radioaggieland.com, brought to you by the folks at Bryan Broadcasting.
Fans can listen to streaming audio of the two stations that carry A&M baseball-News/Talk 1620 WTAW and SportsRadio 1150 The Zone-along with several sister stations free of charge. The service is available on iPhones, Blackberrys and other selected PDAs and cell phones, as well as on personal computers.
To check availability or to set up your device to listen to Aggie baseball all season long wherever you go, visit radioaggieland.com.
2010 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
The 14th-annual Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship is scheduled for May 26-30 at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in downtown Oklahoma City.
The eight-team championship will be in a two-division, pool play format for the fifth straight season in 2009. The winner of each bracket will meet in the championship game, with the victor earning the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. Texas is the defending champion.
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.