COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies wrap up their regular-season home slate with a three-game series against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Aggies enter the series immersed in the SEC pennant race. The Maroon and White are tied with LSU atop the SEC Western Division with identical 16-7 league ledgers. The two teams sit a half game behind Vanderbilt (17-7) for the overall lead in the SEC. Texas A&M owns a five-game win streak and a 29-4 record on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
#2 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (41-7, 16-7 SEC) vs SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS (28-21, 10-14 SEC)
Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park (6,100) • College Station, Texas
SCHEDULE - Friday, 6:35 pm • Saturday, 2:05 pm • Sunday, 1:05 pm
RADIO - Sports Radio 1150 The Zone • Dave South (play-by-play)
LIVE VIDEO - SEC Network+ (WatchESPN credentials required through cable provider) • Will Johnson (play-by-play); Mark Johnson (color)
LIVE AUDIO - 12thMan.com • radioaggieland.com (free)
LIVE STATS - 12thMan.com
RANKINGS - Texas A&M - 2 (USAT), 3 (BA), 4 (D1B), 4 (NCBWA); South Carolina - unranked
SERIES HISTORY - South Carolina leads 4-0
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
• FRIDAY: #38 Grayson Long (Jr., RHP, 8-0, 2.89 ERA) vs #13 Jack Wynkoop (Jr., LHP, 7-4, 2.45 ERA)
• SATURDAY: #27 Ryan Hendrix (So., RHP, 3-1, 2.81) vs TBAÂ
• SUNDAY:TBA vs TBA
ACROSS THE BOARD IMPROVEMENT
The Aggies are hitting .023 higher than at the same time a season ago and the improvement can be seen sprinkled throughout the lineup. Below is a comparison of batting averages through 48 games from 2014 and 2015.Â
TEXAS A&M/SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES NOTABLES
The Aggies are 0-4 all-time against the Gamecocks, getting outscored 20-13. South Carolina bested the Aggies, 5-4, at the 2011 College World Series. The Gamecocks swept Texas A&M in a three-game series in Columbia in 2013.
In 2013, the Aggies were swept despite out-hitting South Carolina (.262-.247). Texas A&M fell victim to 26 runners left on base and three home runs by the Gamecocks. In the series opener, GRAYSON LONG made his first-ever SEC start, holding South Carolina to two runs on one hit and three walks while striking out five in 5.2 innings. The Gamecocks scored the game winning run off JASON FREEMAN in the sixth to take a 3-2 win. The Gamecocks scored five runs off of Kyle Martin in 0.1 innings to take a stranglehold of the Friday game, coasting to a 6-4 win. In the Saturday game, Daniel Mengden allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three in 6.0 innings but South Carolina blew the game open with three runs off Jason Jester in the eighth to claim a 6-3 victory.
MORE ON SOUTH CAROLINA
Entering weekend play, South Carolina is 28-21 overall and 10-14 in the SEC. The Gamecocks started the season by going 17-3 in the first 20 games, but they've stumbled the last seven weeks going 11-18 since St. Patrick's Day.
South Carolina is hitting .251 with a .346 on-base percentage and .361 slugging percentage. The Gamecocks boast three players hitting over .300. Kyle Martin is one of the SEC's most dangerous batters, hitting .347 with 11 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 49 RBI. Elliott Caldwell is hitting .345 with five doubles, eight triples, two home runs and 33 RBI. Max Schrock is hitting .304 with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 30 RBI.
The Gamecocks own a 3.73 ERA with six shutouts and 408 strikeouts in 437.0 innings of work. Friday night starter Jack Wynkoop has been South Carolina's most reliable pitcher, posting a 7-4 record with one save, a 2.45 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 84.1 innings. Closer Taylor Widener is 1-3 with nine saves, a 3.14 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.
South Carolina has emerged as a premier program with 11 College World Series appearances, including six since 2002. The Gamecocks were national champions in 2010 and 2011 and runners-up in 1975, 1977, 2002 and 2012. South Carolina has a streak of 15 consecutive seasons with 40 or more wins that is in jeopardy. The Gamecocks have made 30 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, including every season since 2000.
The Gamecocks boast 47 former players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. The group is headlined by Queens' favorite Mookie Wilson who swiped 327 bases and racked up 1,397 in 12 seasons, including 10 with the New York Mets. Other notables include two-time MLB All-Star Brian Roberts.
FRIDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER:Â #38 GRAYSON LONG
First pitcher to Aggie pitcher to start 8-0 since Michael Wacha in 2012... didn't get a decision last week at No. 1 LSU despite a strong outing (6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K)... SEC Pitcher of the Week twice in 2015... seven weeks ago, fanned 14 of the 23 batters he faced in 6.0 innings at Alabama... named Most Outstanding Player at the Houston College Classic in March, scattering three hits and striking out a then career-high 10 batters without a walk in a 6-0 win against No. 16 Houston... enters play as the Aggies' active leader in wins (18), innings pitched (203.0) and strikeouts (169)... started his sophomore campaign by allowing just one run in his first five starts, scattering 22 hits and 10 walks while striking out 22 batters in 34.0 innings... last season he earned SEC wins against Auburn, Florida, eventual national champion Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Mississippi State, posting a 5-2 record in league action.
LONG'S CAREER TOTALS
SATURDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER:Â #27 RYAN HENDRIX
Making his fifth career start and fourth start in 2015... earned win at Tennessee, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five in 6.0 innings... held No. 1 LSU in check for the first six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, before allowing four runs in the seventh... stellar in the bullpen in 2015, logging a 3-0 record and five saves in 14 outings... worked 4.1 innings of relief in the Sunday game against Mississippi State three weeks ago, retiring the first 12 batters he faced before allowing a hit with two outs in the ninth inning... this season he has worked the ninth inning on 11 occasions logging a .220 opponent batting average and 0.82 ERA.
HENDRIX'S CAREER TOTALS
BIG INNINGS
The 2015 campaign has been spangled by big innings for the Aggies. Texas A&M has four innings in 2015 in which they've scored at least seven runs. Most recently, the Aggies put up nine runs in the sixth inning of their 14-6 rubber match win against Missouri and 13 runs in the third inning of a 19-4 pounding of Sam Houston State. For the year, the Aggies boast 24 innings in which they've produced four or more runs.
In the first 37 games of the season, A&M's pitching staff allowed four or more runs in an inning on just three occasions. In the last 11 games, they have allowed four or more runs in an inning on six occasions, going 3-3 in the games. Against Arkansas, Aggies allowed more than four runs in an inning in each of the three games in the series and they allowed four runs in the seventh inning of their 9-6 loss to LSU. A&M yielded four runs to Texas State in the seventh inning, but it was offset by the Aggies' four-run sixth inning. The Maroon and White also allowed five runs in the fourth inning of the series finale at Tennessee, but were saved by a four-run seventh inning of their own.
ALLEMAND JOINS THE 200-GAMES CLUB
With his appearance against Rice on April 7, Blake Allemand became the 17th player in Aggie history to play in 200 games. Six Aggies have appeared in 200 games in the 21st century, including school record holder Krey Bratsen (245 - 2011-014), Kevin Gonzalez (236 - 2008-11), Brodie Green (228 - 2007-10), Kyle Colligan (218 - 2006-09) and Brandon Wood (204 - 2010-13).
With 215 games played, Allemand currently ranks 10th on A&M's career list. For his career, Allemand is hitting .295 (222-for-753) with 26 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 95 RBI and 31 stolen bases. He has made 209 career starts, including 47 in 2012, 61 in 2013 and 53 in 2014.
Allemand hit two home runs in his first 196 games. In the last 19 games, the Boerne, Texas-native has left the yard three times. He ranks eighth on A&M's career walks list with 112.
MIDWEEK PERFECTION
The Aggies are 13-0 in midweek action this season, outscoring opponents 92-31. The A&M offense has been highlighted by NICK BANKS, batting .500 (22-for-44) with 11 runs, three doubles and eight RBI, and MITCHELL NAU, hitting .487 (19-for-39) with 11 RBI. RONNIE GIDEON has four home runs and 12 RBI. The pitching staff has a 2.08 ERA and the Aggies have 126 strikeouts in 121.0 innings. TURNER LARKINS has started 10 of the games, posting a 4-0 record with a 3.32 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. The bullpen is 8-0 with six saves and a 1.46 ERA in midweek action, striking out 73 in 68.0 innings.
Dating back to last season, the Aggies have won 18 consecutive midweek games.
TRENDING UPWARD
The Aggies are one of just 22 schools to log 200 or more wins between 2010-14. Over the five-year span, Texas A&M is tied with Kent State for 17th place with 203 victories. The Maroon and White are 203-116-1 (.636) over the span. The SEC boasts six teams with over 200 wins between 2010-14, including South Carolina (245), Vanderbilt (240), LSU (227), Florida (216), Arkansas (208) and Texas. The six leads all conferences, trailed by the ACC (5), Pac 12 (4) and Big 12 (4).
NINTH-INNING CLAMPS
The Aggie pitching staff has yielded just seven earned runs in the ninth inning or extra innings, a body of work that includes 46.1 innings and six of the seven earned runs have come with Texas A&M leading by four or more runs. The bullpen, which has yielded just six runs, five unearned, in the ninth inning and extra frames, has allowed just 28 hits and 17 walks in the 46.0 innings, with 55 strikeouts. MARK ECKER has accounted for 18.0 innings, yielding only six hits and four walks while striking out 22. RYAN HENDRIX has worked 11.0 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, scattering nine hits and three walks while striking out 12.
DINGER WATCH
The Aggies already have 48 home runs on the season. Last year, A&M hit just 25 home runs on the year. The Aggies had just 18 home runs at this point in the season in 2014. A&M has hit 15 of their 48 home runs in series openers. The Aggies have 26 home runs in their last 18 games, including five home runs in a 19-4 win against Sam Houston State. A&M added five more home runs in the doubleheader sweep at Kentucky and logged two in a 4-3 win over No. 13 Rice.
INHERITANCE TAX
In the Aggies' 3-2 win against Baylor, A&M's bullpen had a string of stranding 18 consecutive inherited runners snapped. The Aggie relievers have still been rather salty on the season, allowing just 31 of 119 (73.9 percent stranded) inherited runners to score. TY SCHLOTTMANN has been the most tested out of the bullpen and he has been up to the task, stranding 22 of his 28 inherited runners (78.6 percent). ANDREW VINSON has left 20 of the 25 ducks he inherited on the pond (80.0 percent). KYLE SIMONDS has stranded eight of the nine runners he has inherited. Against Prairie View A&M, Aggie relievers entered the game with seven baserunners, including bases loaded on two occasions, and they didn't yield a run. In the doubleheader sweep of Kentucky, the Aggies allowed just one of six inherited runners to score. Two weeks ago against Rice, the bullpen stranded six of seven inherited runners.
MEN IN BLACK
The Aggies have a new black uniform in their wardrobe for the 2015 season. The squad is only permitted to wear the jerseys for games in which they are trying to complete a series sweep. They have had the opportunity to don the black unis on eight occasions this season, going 7-1. The uniforms have been especially friendly to the pitching staff that owns a 2.59 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 73.0 innings of work in the look. The Aggies were unable to wear black jerseys in their series finale at Kentucky as the Wildcats elected to wear black in the second game of the doubleheader.
MEATGRINDER
Starting with the three-game series at Alabama, 23 of Texas A&M's last 33 games will be against teams that advanced to the 2014 NCAA Championship. The gauntlet includes seven SEC weekend series against NCAA tournament teams, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and South Carolina, two games against Sam Houston State and one game against Rice. The Aggies are currently 19-7 in the stretch.
SEPARATION SECOND
The Aggies are outscoring opponents 36-6 in the second innings of games this. Much of the dominance can be attributed to the pitching staff which is holding opponents to a .236 batting average and boasts an 0.94 ERA. In the 48 innings, the Maroon and White have allowed just eight extra-base hits.
AGGIES PERFECT IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Aggies are 25-0 in non-conference play this season. In non-league play, the Aggie pitching staff owns a 1.93 ERA and is holding opponents to a .233 batting average. The staff has a 1.09 WHIP and 3.88 K-to-BB ratio during the span. On offense, the Aggies are hitting .316 in non-conference action with MITCHELL NAU (.438) and NICK BANKS (.409) both hitting over .400. Texas A&M owns a 30-game win streak in regular-season non-conference play dating back to 2014.
The last time the Aggies went through a regular-season non-conference slate without a loss was in 1930 when they went 8-0 outside of SWC play.
WINNING WAYS
The Aggies are guaranteed their ninth consecutive winning season. The Maroon and White's 41 wins are the most since the 2012 campaign when A&M finished 43-18. At 16-7 in league action, the Aggies are guaranteed their first-ever winning record in SEC play.
COLLEGE STATION FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Aggie bullpen has been tested more frequently as the season has progressed and are stepping up to the challenge. Fourteen pitchers have combined to work 191 innings out of the bullpen, posting a 17-3 record, 19 saves, a 2.07 ERA, 150 hits and 54 walks while striking out 185. The bullpen sports a WHIP of 1.07, opponent batting average of .216 and a 3.43-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At the Houston College Classic, the bullpen allowed just one hit in 7.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Texas A&M's bullpen has outstanding numbers in two key stats. The Aggie relievers have retired 68.7 percent (101-of-147) of the first batters they have faced. They've also stranded 73.9 percent (88-of-119) of the runners they have inherited.
In games decided four runs or less, the Aggie bullpen owns a 1.89 ERA and is holding opponents to a .228 batting average. ANDREW VINSON has 20 appearances in those games with a 4-1 record, allowing four runs, scattering 22 hits while striking out 24 in 28.2 scoreless innings. RYAN HENDRIX has appeared in 11 of the contests out of the bullpen, allowing two runs, one earned, on 11 hits and six walks while striking out 11 in 15.0 innings. He has a 2-0 mark, five saves and a 0.60 ERA in the tight games. MARK ECKER was perfect in his duties until suffering the Aggies' lone blown save in the Saturday-Sunday game two loss at Arkansas. Ecker has eight saves, a 1-1 and 1.77 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 20.1 innings in tightly contested games.
BALANCE OF POWER
Coach Childress has the potential to pencil in a lineup that can include eight players with at least four home runs. LOGAN TAYLOR leads the team with 10 home runs, followed by RONNIE GIDEON with seven. JB MOSS and NICK BANKS checks in five home runs apiece, followed by BLAKE ALLEMAND, RYNE BIRK, LOGAN NOTTEBROK and HUNTER MELTON with four dingers each.
CHILDRESS JOINS 400-WIN CLUB
With the win in the series finale at Tennessee, ROB CHILDRESS earned his 400th career win. With his current record of 400-215-2, he trails only Mark Johnson (876 - 1985-2005) and Tom Chandler (660 - 1959-84) in career wins for the Aggies.
SEEMS LIKE JUST LAST YEAR
Texas A&M is averaging 1.4 more runs per game and sporting a batting average .023 higher than the same point last season. Here's a comparison of the Aggies offensive numbers through 48 games in 2014 and 2015.
HISTORIC START
The Aggies started the season 24-0. It marked the best start for the Maroon and White since the 1989 campaign when A&M set a 26-0 foundation. It also broke the SEC record for longest win streak, topping LSU's 23-game win streak in 2008.
STREAKS AND TRENDS
• The Aggies are 11-1 on the opening nights of series/tournaments in 2015. Last season, A&M was 3-11 on opening night in the regular season, and additionally lost its opening games at the SEC Tournament and NCAA Houston Regional.
• In the series finale at LSU, NICK BANKS had his 42-game streak of reaching base (via walk, HBP or hit) snapped. It was the longest stretch for an Aggie since Mikey Reynolds reached in 46 consecutive games in 2013. He had a pair of 13-game hit streaks during the stretch.
• The Aggies are on a 18-game win streak in midweek games, including a 13-0 mark in 2015. The string includes five games at the end of 2014, including wins over then-No. 16 Rice and then-No. 25 Sam Houston State.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND is on a season-long eight-game hit streak. He is batting .529 (18-for-34) with 12 runs, four doubles, one triple, one home run and four RBI over the span.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND has multiple hits in the last four games. He is batting .588 (10-for-17) with eight runs, two doubles and one RBI over the span.
• MITCHELL NAU is on an eight-game hit streak. He is batting .467 (14-for-30) with four runs, three doubles and nine RBI over the span.
• The Aggies have won their last 30 regular-season non-conference games, including 25 in a row this season.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND has hit in the leadoff spot the last 38 games, batting .366 with a .461 on-base percentage, 38 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 22 RBI.
• LOGAN TAYLOR has hit cleanup the last 13 games, batting .440 with a .525 on-base percentage, .640 slugging percentage, four doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI.
• LOGAN TAYLOR's 10 home runs are the most for an Aggie since 2010 when a trio hit the mark, led by Brodie Greene with 14.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND ranks eighth on A&M's career list for walks (112), 10th for at-bats (741), 10th for games played (215).
AGGIES IN THE TOP TWENTY
Starting the week, the Aggies were rank in the top 10 in the nation in 11 NCAA categories, including eight on the offensive side and three on the mound.
UP NEXT
The Aggies wrap up their non-conference road slate on Tuesday as they travel to Huntsville for a 6:30 pm game at Sam Houston State.
#2 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (41-7, 16-7 SEC) vs SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS (28-21, 10-14 SEC)
Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park (6,100) • College Station, Texas
SCHEDULE - Friday, 6:35 pm • Saturday, 2:05 pm • Sunday, 1:05 pm
RADIO - Sports Radio 1150 The Zone • Dave South (play-by-play)
LIVE VIDEO - SEC Network+ (WatchESPN credentials required through cable provider) • Will Johnson (play-by-play); Mark Johnson (color)
LIVE AUDIO - 12thMan.com • radioaggieland.com (free)
LIVE STATS - 12thMan.com
RANKINGS - Texas A&M - 2 (USAT), 3 (BA), 4 (D1B), 4 (NCBWA); South Carolina - unranked
SERIES HISTORY - South Carolina leads 4-0
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
• FRIDAY: #38 Grayson Long (Jr., RHP, 8-0, 2.89 ERA) vs #13 Jack Wynkoop (Jr., LHP, 7-4, 2.45 ERA)
• SATURDAY: #27 Ryan Hendrix (So., RHP, 3-1, 2.81) vs TBAÂ
• SUNDAY:TBA vs TBA
ACROSS THE BOARD IMPROVEMENT
The Aggies are hitting .023 higher than at the same time a season ago and the improvement can be seen sprinkled throughout the lineup. Below is a comparison of batting averages through 48 games from 2014 and 2015.Â
| 2014 | 2015 | |
| Blake Allemand | .324 | .356 |
| Nick Banks | .340 | .373 |
| Ronnie Gideon | .214 | .311 |
| Hunter Melton | .245 | .321 |
| Mitchell Nau | .280 | .378 |
| Logan Taylor | .272 | .377 |
TEXAS A&M/SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES NOTABLES
The Aggies are 0-4 all-time against the Gamecocks, getting outscored 20-13. South Carolina bested the Aggies, 5-4, at the 2011 College World Series. The Gamecocks swept Texas A&M in a three-game series in Columbia in 2013.
In 2013, the Aggies were swept despite out-hitting South Carolina (.262-.247). Texas A&M fell victim to 26 runners left on base and three home runs by the Gamecocks. In the series opener, GRAYSON LONG made his first-ever SEC start, holding South Carolina to two runs on one hit and three walks while striking out five in 5.2 innings. The Gamecocks scored the game winning run off JASON FREEMAN in the sixth to take a 3-2 win. The Gamecocks scored five runs off of Kyle Martin in 0.1 innings to take a stranglehold of the Friday game, coasting to a 6-4 win. In the Saturday game, Daniel Mengden allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three in 6.0 innings but South Carolina blew the game open with three runs off Jason Jester in the eighth to claim a 6-3 victory.
MORE ON SOUTH CAROLINA
Entering weekend play, South Carolina is 28-21 overall and 10-14 in the SEC. The Gamecocks started the season by going 17-3 in the first 20 games, but they've stumbled the last seven weeks going 11-18 since St. Patrick's Day.
South Carolina is hitting .251 with a .346 on-base percentage and .361 slugging percentage. The Gamecocks boast three players hitting over .300. Kyle Martin is one of the SEC's most dangerous batters, hitting .347 with 11 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 49 RBI. Elliott Caldwell is hitting .345 with five doubles, eight triples, two home runs and 33 RBI. Max Schrock is hitting .304 with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 30 RBI.
The Gamecocks own a 3.73 ERA with six shutouts and 408 strikeouts in 437.0 innings of work. Friday night starter Jack Wynkoop has been South Carolina's most reliable pitcher, posting a 7-4 record with one save, a 2.45 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 84.1 innings. Closer Taylor Widener is 1-3 with nine saves, a 3.14 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.
South Carolina has emerged as a premier program with 11 College World Series appearances, including six since 2002. The Gamecocks were national champions in 2010 and 2011 and runners-up in 1975, 1977, 2002 and 2012. South Carolina has a streak of 15 consecutive seasons with 40 or more wins that is in jeopardy. The Gamecocks have made 30 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, including every season since 2000.
The Gamecocks boast 47 former players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. The group is headlined by Queens' favorite Mookie Wilson who swiped 327 bases and racked up 1,397 in 12 seasons, including 10 with the New York Mets. Other notables include two-time MLB All-Star Brian Roberts.
FRIDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER:Â #38 GRAYSON LONG
First pitcher to Aggie pitcher to start 8-0 since Michael Wacha in 2012... didn't get a decision last week at No. 1 LSU despite a strong outing (6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K)... SEC Pitcher of the Week twice in 2015... seven weeks ago, fanned 14 of the 23 batters he faced in 6.0 innings at Alabama... named Most Outstanding Player at the Houston College Classic in March, scattering three hits and striking out a then career-high 10 batters without a walk in a 6-0 win against No. 16 Houston... enters play as the Aggies' active leader in wins (18), innings pitched (203.0) and strikeouts (169)... started his sophomore campaign by allowing just one run in his first five starts, scattering 22 hits and 10 walks while striking out 22 batters in 34.0 innings... last season he earned SEC wins against Auburn, Florida, eventual national champion Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Mississippi State, posting a 5-2 record in league action.
LONG'S CAREER TOTALS
| Year | W-L | ERA | APP/GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AVG |
| 2013 | 4-2 | 3.52 | 12/10 | 0 | 46.0 | 39 | 19 | 18 | 25 | 38 | .235 |
| 2014 | 6-2 | 3.12 | 15/15 | 0 | 89.1 | 98 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 55 | .284 |
| 2015 | 8-0 | 2.93 | 12/12 | 0 | 67.2 | 58 | 28 | 22 | 28 | 76 | .227 |
| Career | 18-4 | 3.15 | 39/37 | 0 | 203.0 | 195 | 79 | 71 | 81 | 169 | .255 |
SATURDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER:Â #27 RYAN HENDRIX
Making his fifth career start and fourth start in 2015... earned win at Tennessee, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five in 6.0 innings... held No. 1 LSU in check for the first six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, before allowing four runs in the seventh... stellar in the bullpen in 2015, logging a 3-0 record and five saves in 14 outings... worked 4.1 innings of relief in the Sunday game against Mississippi State three weeks ago, retiring the first 12 batters he faced before allowing a hit with two outs in the ninth inning... this season he has worked the ninth inning on 11 occasions logging a .220 opponent batting average and 0.82 ERA.
HENDRIX'S CAREER TOTALS
| Year | W-L | ERA | APP/GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AVG |
| 2014 | 0-2 | 7.27 | 11/1 | 0 | 8.2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | .242 |
| 2015 | 4-1 | 2.61 | 17/3 | 5 | 38.0 | 35 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 38 | .245 |
| Career | 4-3 | 3.47 | 28/4 | 5 | 46.2 | 43 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 47 | .244 |
BIG INNINGS
The 2015 campaign has been spangled by big innings for the Aggies. Texas A&M has four innings in 2015 in which they've scored at least seven runs. Most recently, the Aggies put up nine runs in the sixth inning of their 14-6 rubber match win against Missouri and 13 runs in the third inning of a 19-4 pounding of Sam Houston State. For the year, the Aggies boast 24 innings in which they've produced four or more runs.
In the first 37 games of the season, A&M's pitching staff allowed four or more runs in an inning on just three occasions. In the last 11 games, they have allowed four or more runs in an inning on six occasions, going 3-3 in the games. Against Arkansas, Aggies allowed more than four runs in an inning in each of the three games in the series and they allowed four runs in the seventh inning of their 9-6 loss to LSU. A&M yielded four runs to Texas State in the seventh inning, but it was offset by the Aggies' four-run sixth inning. The Maroon and White also allowed five runs in the fourth inning of the series finale at Tennessee, but were saved by a four-run seventh inning of their own.
ALLEMAND JOINS THE 200-GAMES CLUB
With his appearance against Rice on April 7, Blake Allemand became the 17th player in Aggie history to play in 200 games. Six Aggies have appeared in 200 games in the 21st century, including school record holder Krey Bratsen (245 - 2011-014), Kevin Gonzalez (236 - 2008-11), Brodie Green (228 - 2007-10), Kyle Colligan (218 - 2006-09) and Brandon Wood (204 - 2010-13).
With 215 games played, Allemand currently ranks 10th on A&M's career list. For his career, Allemand is hitting .295 (222-for-753) with 26 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 95 RBI and 31 stolen bases. He has made 209 career starts, including 47 in 2012, 61 in 2013 and 53 in 2014.
Allemand hit two home runs in his first 196 games. In the last 19 games, the Boerne, Texas-native has left the yard three times. He ranks eighth on A&M's career walks list with 112.
MIDWEEK PERFECTION
The Aggies are 13-0 in midweek action this season, outscoring opponents 92-31. The A&M offense has been highlighted by NICK BANKS, batting .500 (22-for-44) with 11 runs, three doubles and eight RBI, and MITCHELL NAU, hitting .487 (19-for-39) with 11 RBI. RONNIE GIDEON has four home runs and 12 RBI. The pitching staff has a 2.08 ERA and the Aggies have 126 strikeouts in 121.0 innings. TURNER LARKINS has started 10 of the games, posting a 4-0 record with a 3.32 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. The bullpen is 8-0 with six saves and a 1.46 ERA in midweek action, striking out 73 in 68.0 innings.
Dating back to last season, the Aggies have won 18 consecutive midweek games.
TRENDING UPWARD
The Aggies are one of just 22 schools to log 200 or more wins between 2010-14. Over the five-year span, Texas A&M is tied with Kent State for 17th place with 203 victories. The Maroon and White are 203-116-1 (.636) over the span. The SEC boasts six teams with over 200 wins between 2010-14, including South Carolina (245), Vanderbilt (240), LSU (227), Florida (216), Arkansas (208) and Texas. The six leads all conferences, trailed by the ACC (5), Pac 12 (4) and Big 12 (4).
NINTH-INNING CLAMPS
The Aggie pitching staff has yielded just seven earned runs in the ninth inning or extra innings, a body of work that includes 46.1 innings and six of the seven earned runs have come with Texas A&M leading by four or more runs. The bullpen, which has yielded just six runs, five unearned, in the ninth inning and extra frames, has allowed just 28 hits and 17 walks in the 46.0 innings, with 55 strikeouts. MARK ECKER has accounted for 18.0 innings, yielding only six hits and four walks while striking out 22. RYAN HENDRIX has worked 11.0 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, scattering nine hits and three walks while striking out 12.
DINGER WATCH
The Aggies already have 48 home runs on the season. Last year, A&M hit just 25 home runs on the year. The Aggies had just 18 home runs at this point in the season in 2014. A&M has hit 15 of their 48 home runs in series openers. The Aggies have 26 home runs in their last 18 games, including five home runs in a 19-4 win against Sam Houston State. A&M added five more home runs in the doubleheader sweep at Kentucky and logged two in a 4-3 win over No. 13 Rice.
INHERITANCE TAX
In the Aggies' 3-2 win against Baylor, A&M's bullpen had a string of stranding 18 consecutive inherited runners snapped. The Aggie relievers have still been rather salty on the season, allowing just 31 of 119 (73.9 percent stranded) inherited runners to score. TY SCHLOTTMANN has been the most tested out of the bullpen and he has been up to the task, stranding 22 of his 28 inherited runners (78.6 percent). ANDREW VINSON has left 20 of the 25 ducks he inherited on the pond (80.0 percent). KYLE SIMONDS has stranded eight of the nine runners he has inherited. Against Prairie View A&M, Aggie relievers entered the game with seven baserunners, including bases loaded on two occasions, and they didn't yield a run. In the doubleheader sweep of Kentucky, the Aggies allowed just one of six inherited runners to score. Two weeks ago against Rice, the bullpen stranded six of seven inherited runners.
MEN IN BLACK
The Aggies have a new black uniform in their wardrobe for the 2015 season. The squad is only permitted to wear the jerseys for games in which they are trying to complete a series sweep. They have had the opportunity to don the black unis on eight occasions this season, going 7-1. The uniforms have been especially friendly to the pitching staff that owns a 2.59 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 73.0 innings of work in the look. The Aggies were unable to wear black jerseys in their series finale at Kentucky as the Wildcats elected to wear black in the second game of the doubleheader.
MEATGRINDER
Starting with the three-game series at Alabama, 23 of Texas A&M's last 33 games will be against teams that advanced to the 2014 NCAA Championship. The gauntlet includes seven SEC weekend series against NCAA tournament teams, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and South Carolina, two games against Sam Houston State and one game against Rice. The Aggies are currently 19-7 in the stretch.
SEPARATION SECOND
The Aggies are outscoring opponents 36-6 in the second innings of games this. Much of the dominance can be attributed to the pitching staff which is holding opponents to a .236 batting average and boasts an 0.94 ERA. In the 48 innings, the Maroon and White have allowed just eight extra-base hits.
AGGIES PERFECT IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Aggies are 25-0 in non-conference play this season. In non-league play, the Aggie pitching staff owns a 1.93 ERA and is holding opponents to a .233 batting average. The staff has a 1.09 WHIP and 3.88 K-to-BB ratio during the span. On offense, the Aggies are hitting .316 in non-conference action with MITCHELL NAU (.438) and NICK BANKS (.409) both hitting over .400. Texas A&M owns a 30-game win streak in regular-season non-conference play dating back to 2014.
The last time the Aggies went through a regular-season non-conference slate without a loss was in 1930 when they went 8-0 outside of SWC play.
WINNING WAYS
The Aggies are guaranteed their ninth consecutive winning season. The Maroon and White's 41 wins are the most since the 2012 campaign when A&M finished 43-18. At 16-7 in league action, the Aggies are guaranteed their first-ever winning record in SEC play.
COLLEGE STATION FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Aggie bullpen has been tested more frequently as the season has progressed and are stepping up to the challenge. Fourteen pitchers have combined to work 191 innings out of the bullpen, posting a 17-3 record, 19 saves, a 2.07 ERA, 150 hits and 54 walks while striking out 185. The bullpen sports a WHIP of 1.07, opponent batting average of .216 and a 3.43-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At the Houston College Classic, the bullpen allowed just one hit in 7.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Texas A&M's bullpen has outstanding numbers in two key stats. The Aggie relievers have retired 68.7 percent (101-of-147) of the first batters they have faced. They've also stranded 73.9 percent (88-of-119) of the runners they have inherited.
In games decided four runs or less, the Aggie bullpen owns a 1.89 ERA and is holding opponents to a .228 batting average. ANDREW VINSON has 20 appearances in those games with a 4-1 record, allowing four runs, scattering 22 hits while striking out 24 in 28.2 scoreless innings. RYAN HENDRIX has appeared in 11 of the contests out of the bullpen, allowing two runs, one earned, on 11 hits and six walks while striking out 11 in 15.0 innings. He has a 2-0 mark, five saves and a 0.60 ERA in the tight games. MARK ECKER was perfect in his duties until suffering the Aggies' lone blown save in the Saturday-Sunday game two loss at Arkansas. Ecker has eight saves, a 1-1 and 1.77 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 20.1 innings in tightly contested games.
BALANCE OF POWER
Coach Childress has the potential to pencil in a lineup that can include eight players with at least four home runs. LOGAN TAYLOR leads the team with 10 home runs, followed by RONNIE GIDEON with seven. JB MOSS and NICK BANKS checks in five home runs apiece, followed by BLAKE ALLEMAND, RYNE BIRK, LOGAN NOTTEBROK and HUNTER MELTON with four dingers each.
CHILDRESS JOINS 400-WIN CLUB
With the win in the series finale at Tennessee, ROB CHILDRESS earned his 400th career win. With his current record of 400-215-2, he trails only Mark Johnson (876 - 1985-2005) and Tom Chandler (660 - 1959-84) in career wins for the Aggies.
SEEMS LIKE JUST LAST YEAR
Texas A&M is averaging 1.4 more runs per game and sporting a batting average .023 higher than the same point last season. Here's a comparison of the Aggies offensive numbers through 48 games in 2014 and 2015.
| 2014 | 2015 | |
| W-L | 29-19 | 41-7 |
| SEC W-L | 11-12 | 16-7 |
| Batting Average | .292 | .315 |
| Runs Per Game | 5.73 | 7.15 |
| Runs | 275 | 343 |
| Home Runs | 18 | 48 |
| RBI | 250 | 322 |
| Slugging Percentage | .386 | .467 |
| On-Base Percentage | .371 | .410 |
HISTORIC START
The Aggies started the season 24-0. It marked the best start for the Maroon and White since the 1989 campaign when A&M set a 26-0 foundation. It also broke the SEC record for longest win streak, topping LSU's 23-game win streak in 2008.
STREAKS AND TRENDS
• The Aggies are 11-1 on the opening nights of series/tournaments in 2015. Last season, A&M was 3-11 on opening night in the regular season, and additionally lost its opening games at the SEC Tournament and NCAA Houston Regional.
• In the series finale at LSU, NICK BANKS had his 42-game streak of reaching base (via walk, HBP or hit) snapped. It was the longest stretch for an Aggie since Mikey Reynolds reached in 46 consecutive games in 2013. He had a pair of 13-game hit streaks during the stretch.
• The Aggies are on a 18-game win streak in midweek games, including a 13-0 mark in 2015. The string includes five games at the end of 2014, including wins over then-No. 16 Rice and then-No. 25 Sam Houston State.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND is on a season-long eight-game hit streak. He is batting .529 (18-for-34) with 12 runs, four doubles, one triple, one home run and four RBI over the span.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND has multiple hits in the last four games. He is batting .588 (10-for-17) with eight runs, two doubles and one RBI over the span.
• MITCHELL NAU is on an eight-game hit streak. He is batting .467 (14-for-30) with four runs, three doubles and nine RBI over the span.
• The Aggies have won their last 30 regular-season non-conference games, including 25 in a row this season.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND has hit in the leadoff spot the last 38 games, batting .366 with a .461 on-base percentage, 38 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 22 RBI.
• LOGAN TAYLOR has hit cleanup the last 13 games, batting .440 with a .525 on-base percentage, .640 slugging percentage, four doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI.
• LOGAN TAYLOR's 10 home runs are the most for an Aggie since 2010 when a trio hit the mark, led by Brodie Greene with 14.
• BLAKE ALLEMAND ranks eighth on A&M's career list for walks (112), 10th for at-bats (741), 10th for games played (215).
AGGIES IN THE TOP TWENTY
Starting the week, the Aggies were rank in the top 10 in the nation in 11 NCAA categories, including eight on the offensive side and three on the mound.
| Stat | National Rank | SEC Rank | |
| On-Base Percentage | .410 | 5th | 1st |
| Batting Average | .315 | 6th | 2nd |
| Slugging Percentage | .467 | 10th | 2nd |
| Runs | 343 | 11th | 1st |
| Hits | 504 | 12th | 3rd |
| Bases on Balls | 229 | 13th | 2nd |
| Home Runs | 48 | 14th | 1st |
| Runs per Game | 7.15 | 19th | 1st |
| ERA | 2.74 | 8th | 1st |
| Strikeout-to-Walk | 3.34 | 8th | 1st |
| Strikeouts/Nine Innings | 8.8 | 16th | 2nd |
The Aggies wrap up their non-conference road slate on Tuesday as they travel to Huntsville for a 6:30 pm game at Sam Houston State.