May 5, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M baseball team begins the final stretch of the regular season on Thursday when the Aggies open a three-game series with Dallas Baptist at Olsen Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. The series, bumped up a day for finals, will continue on Friday at 6:35 p.m. and then culminate with the annual Military Appreciation Day on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
Any veterans or active duty military interested in attending Saturday's festivities will receive two free tickets to the game, with additional tickets available for $4. Prior to first pitch, there will be an on-field recognition for all veterans and active servicemen and women. Those interested in participating are asked to be at the stadium by 1:15 p.m. to be ready to enter the field at 1:30. Any active duty military or veterans who recently returned from deployment and will be in attendance at the game, please contact Travis Libby for a special promotion opportunity.
In addition, the Singing Cadets will deliver a live rendition of "God Bless America" in the seventh-inning stretch. Following the game, the annual Aggie Baseball kids' clinic will take place on the field.
A&M (26-17-1) has won six of its last nine games entering the weekend and is coming off a 3-1 win at Sam Houston State Tuesday evening in Huntsville. The Aggies hit .291 as a squad and feature the Big 12's second-best ERA at 3.59.
The Patriots (24-20), meanwhile, have lost four of five as they wrap up an 11-game road swing this weekend in College Station. DBU dropped two of three at Fresno State last weekend before falling 10-4 on Tuesday at UT Arlington. Dallas Baptist ranks 12th nationally with 68 home runs and 20th in the country with a .337 average. The Patriot pitching staff has a 6.51 ERA, .285 opponent average and seven saves.
Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 21-6, and has won eight of the last 10 meetings between the schools. Last season, the Aggies took two of three from DBU at Olsen.
Following the weekend, A&M has just five regular-season home games remaining. Tickets for this weekend and all games are available online at tickets.12thmanfoundation.com or at the Olsen Field box office on game day. Discounted $4 seats can be purchased at the Old Army Spirit Company on Harvey Road or by visiting oldarmyspirit.com. The games will air locally on WTAW-AM 1620 and free live video will be available on aggieathletics.com.