Undefeated Aggies Open SEC Action Hosting Auburn
Mar 12, 2015 | Baseball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies open up SEC play with a three-game home series against Auburn. The Maroon and White enter play as the only unbeaten team in the country with an 18-0 start. It's currently A&M's second-longest unbeaten string to start a season behind only the 26-0 foundation to the 1989 campaign. Offensively, the Aggies are led by Nick Banks and Mitchell Nau who are both hitting .444. The last two seasons, A&M has needed a win in the finale to avoid getting swept by Auburn.
#7 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (18-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. AUBURN TIGERS (13-4, 0-0 SEC)
Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park (6,100) • College Station, Texas
SCHEDULE - Friday - 6:35 pm • Saturday - 4:05 pm • Sunday - 1:05 pm
TELEVISION - Saturday - SEC Network • Tom Hart (play-by-play), Ben McDonald (color analyst)
RADIO - Sports Radio 1150 The Zone • Dave South (play-by-play)
LIVE VIDEO - SEC Network+ (WatchESPN credentials required through cable provider) - Friday & Sunday - Will Johnson (play-by-play), Mark Johnson (color analyst)
LIVE AUDIO - 12thMan.com • radioaggieland.com (free)
LIVE STATS - 12thMan.com/tamustats.com (mobile devices)
RANKINGS - Texas A&M - 4 (CB), 6 (D1B), 7 (USAT), 8 (NCBWA), 10 (BA); Auburn - unranked
SERIES HISTORY - Auburn leads 4-2; A&M won the last meeting
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
• FRIDAY: #38 Grayson Long (Jr., RHP, 3-0, 2.38) vs. #7 Keegan Thompson (So., RHP, 3-1, 3.42)
• SATURDAY: #31 Matt Kent (Jr., LHP, 4-0, 2.33) vs. #37 Rocky McCord (Sr., RHP, 1-0, 1.59)
• SUNDAY: #23 Turner Larkins (Fr., RHP, 1-0, 2.61) vs. #TBA
1,000 WINS AT OLSEN FIELD
The Aggies enter the weekend needing two wins to reach the 1,000-win plateau at the friendly confines of Olsen Field. Now in their 38th season at the now-Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, the Maroon and White are 998-324-4 (.754).
FOLLOWING THE ACTION
• RADIO — Fans can listen to all games locally on SportsRadio 1150 The Zone... Dave South (play-by-play) and selected commentators will call the action... pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
• MOBILE PHONE — listen to the game on your iPhone, Blackberry or PDA free of charge ... log on to RadioAggieland.com for more information.
TEXAS A&M/AUBURN SERIES NOTABLES
Auburn owns a 4-2 edge in the all-time series which didn't start until 2013 when A&M joined the SEC. In each of the first two series, the Aggies have needed a win in the finale to avoid a sweep.
Last season, the Aggies' weekend at Auburn was highlighted by the performance of GRAYSON LONG in the finale. He worked 8.0 shutout innings, scattering seven hits and one walk while striking out seven as the Aggies posted a 9-0 win.
MORE ON AUBURN
The Tigers are off to a 13-4 start on the season. After a 2-2 start, Auburn went on a seven-game win streak including a three-game sweep of Radford and impressive wins over Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State. Last week, the Tigers claimed the Capital City Classic against Alabama, 5-3, and the swept Xavier in a three-game series. On Tuesday, Auburn was blanked by Samford, 7-0.
Auburn is hitting .305 as a team, paced by Anfernee Grier (.424, nine doubles, one triple, six RBI) and Cody Nulph (.400, six doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI).
On the mound, the Tigers have a 3.04 ERA and are holding opponents to a .230 batting average. The staff is led by Friday starter Keegan Thompson who is 3-1 with a 3.42 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 23.2 innings and Saturday starter Rocky MCord who is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. The closer early on is Justin Camp who is 1-0 with three saves and 20 strikeouts in 10.1 innings.
Last season, the Tigers finished 28-28 overall and placed seventh in the SEC West and 13th in the SEC with a 10-20 league record. Auburn stumbled down the stretch, going 3-8 in May, including 1-8 in SEC play to miss the SEC Tournament.
Auburn has four College World Series appearances, including 1967, 1978, 1994 and 1997. The Tigers' last NCAA Regional appearance came in 2010 when they hosted Clemson, Jacksonville State and Southern Miss in a regional that Clemson prevailed in. Auburn's only Super Regional appearance came in 1999, losing two games at Florida State.
Auburn boasts 46 former players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. The group is headlined by two-time American League MVP Frank Thomas, two-sport superstar Bo Jackson and three-time All-Star pitcher Tim Hudson. Thomas recently became the first former SEC player to get elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. * - Alabama's Joe Sewell played before the formation of the SEC.
Named Most Outstanding Player at the Houston College Classic last week, scattering three hits and striking out a career-high 10 batters without a walk in a 6-0 win against No.16 Houston... in his last three starts he's 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA, 17 strikeouts and a 0.84 WHIP... enters play as the Aggies' active leader in wins (13), innings pitched (158.0) and strikeouts (115)... led the Aggies' with six wins last season... also ranked second on A&M with 15 starts and 89.1 innings pitched... 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... best career outing came against Auburn last season when he worked 8.0 shutout innings, fanning seven while scattering seven hits and one walk to help A&M stave of a series sweep... also earned SEC wins against Florida, eventual national champion Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Mississippi State, posting a 5-2 record in league action.
SATURDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER: #31 MATT KENT
Making his 11th career start and his seventh career weekend start... named to the Houston College Classic All-Tournament team last week as he stymied Baylor hitters for the better part of 7.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out nine... leads Texas A&M with four wins... owns a 13.0-to-1 K/BB ratio in 2015 and 6.58-to-1 for his career... opened season with a win against Holy Cross, yielding just one unearned run on five hits while striking out three in 7.0 innings of work... three weeks ago he won the Sunday game against Penn State, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out six in 6.2 innings... prior to this season, both of his prior weekend starts came as a freshman in 2013, losses to Arkansas and LSU... was 1-0 with a 2.77 in his four starts as a sophomore... has had success in long relief against SEC squads in the past including 5.0 scoreless innings at Mississippi State in 2014 and 5.0 blank frames at Ole Miss in 2013... his effort against Ole Miss in 2013 earned him SEC Freshman of the Week recognition.
SUNDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER: #23 TURNER LARKINS
Making his fifth career start... pitched with a 60-pitch limit on Tuesday, allowing one run in 3.1 innings against Texas-Pan American... was fantastic in his first career start, scattering five hits while striking out nine in 5.1 innings against Stephen F Austin... three weeks ago, he was left with a no-decision against Houston Baptist, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out two in 5.1 innings... made quick work of Holy Cross in his first career outing, using just nine pitches to dispatch of the Crusaders in the eighth inning of the series finale win... owns a 6.7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio... selected on pick before Johnny Manziel in the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
SETTING THE TABLE
Aggie hitters leading off an inning have reached base in 64 of the 148 frames (.432), despite getting just 24 leadoff hits. A&M has drawn 29 walks and have been hit by seven pitches to start innings. The Aggies have five leadoff home runs on the year. LOGAN TAYLOR has reached base in six of his 10 plate appearances leading off, going 2-for-7 with two home runs, three walk and one HBP. MITCHELL NAU has reached on eight of his 13 leadoff plate appearances, going 2-for-8 with three walks and two HBP. Other notables include LOGAN NOTTEBROK (4-7), and BLAKE ALLEMAND (12-28).
LISTEN AROUND THE WORLD
A&M fans in Bryan/College Station will find it easier to find baseball broadcasts as every game will air on SportsRadio 1150 The Zone. Free live audio of every pitch of the 2015 season is also available online at 12thMan.com. Fans across the world can listen to Aggie games free of charge on their iPhone, Blackberry and other selected PDAs and cell phones through the Radio Aggieland app. To check availability or to set up your device to listen to Aggie baseball all season long wherever you go, visit radioaggieland.com.
MAKING EVERY OUT COUNT
The Aggies are making every out count this season, hitting .295 (56-for-190) with two outs. Meanwhile, their opponents have scuffled, hitting .221 (38-for-177) with two outs. The Maroon and White have logged 36 RBI with two outs, an average of 2.00 per game. Ronnie Gideon is batting .333 (5-for-15) with 11 RBI with two outs. JB MOSS hit .389 (7-for-15) with eight RBI with two outs during the span. Other notable hitters with two outs include, NICK BANKS at .565 (13-for-23, 7 RBI), MITCHELL NAU at .368 (7-for-19, 2 RBI) and MICHAEL BARASH at .364 (4-for-11, 2 RBI).
CALL ON ME
Coach Childress has four pitchers who he has called on 50 or more times in their career, including JASON FREEMAN, A.J. MINTER, ANDREW VINSON and MATT KENT.
Freeman leads all active Aggies with his 60 games which includes 57 relief appearances. The 60 games is tied with Michael Wacha for 14th place on A&M's all-time list. For his career, the right-hander is 5-3 with a 4.89 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 70.0 innings. Minter is 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA, two saves and 69 strikeouts (25 BB) in 58.1 innings in 56 appearances, 52 in relief. In 56 games, all out of the bullpen, Vinson is 6-3 with a 2.94 ERA, two saves and 60 strikeouts (21 BB) in 64.1 innings. Kent counts 10 starts among his 50 games. The southpaw is 9-4 with a 3.29 ERA and 79 strikeouts (12 BB) in 109.1 innings.
ALLEMAND'S SENIORITY
Blake Allemand enters the season as the most senior of veterans on the squad. Heading into Friday's game, Allemand has played in 185 games. With 15 more games, Allemand would become just the 17th Aggie to appear in 200 games. Five 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).
For his career, Allemand is hitting .277 (177-for-638) with 17 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 77 RBI and 27 stolen bases. He has made 177 career starts, including 47 in 2012, 61 in 2013 and 53 in 2014.
PITCHER WEDGE
Kyle Simonds marks the only player on the squad to not play high school baseball. Simonds spent his springs at Grand Island (Neb.) Central Catholic High School playing golf. Skilled on the links, Simonds qualified for the Nebraska Class C state tournament all four years, finishing 11th at the championship as a junior. He got his share of baseball in the summers staring for American Legion squad Home Federal. He went 2-for-2 with one double, one home run and three RBI at the Cornhusker League All-Star Game in July 2012.
Simonds honed his pitching skills at Hutchinson Community College where he blossomed last year. As a sophomore, he was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Pitcher of the Year, posting a 13-0 record (13 wins led the nation) and a 2.30 ERA. He broke single season school records for wins (13), complete-games (nine), shutouts (three) and strikeouts (103) in 2014.
The northpaw has been impressive in his six appearance this season. Simonds has not yielded a run in 13.2 innings, striking out 13 and scattering nine hits and four walks. In his first career outing, he retired 12 of 13 batters he faced with the only batter reaching base on a HBP, blanking Holy Cross for 4.0 innings with four strikeouts. Simonds scattered three hits over 2.1 innings against Stephen F. Austin, striking out four. He blanked Penn State for two frames in the series opener and pitched two innings of A&M's 6-0 shutout of then-No. 16 Houston at the Houston College Classic. In his last outing, Simonds earned his first career win working 2.1 innings, scattering two hits and one walk while striking out one in a 4-1 victory against UTPA.
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 seven of 33 inherited runners to score. TY SCHLOTTMANN has been the most tested out of the bullpen and he has been up to the task, stranding nine of his 10 inherited runners. KYLE SIMONDS has stranded five of the six runners he has inherited and JASON FREEMAN has stranded all four inherited runners.
STOUT BULLPEN
The Aggie bullpen has been tested more frequently as the season has progressed and are stepping up to the challenge. Twelve pitchers have combined to work 66.2 innings out of the bullpen, posting a 7-0 record, eight saves, a 1.35 ERA, 46 hits and 12 eight walks while striking out 60. The bullpen sports a WHIP of 0.87, opponent batting average of .198 and a 5.0-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At the Houston College Classic, the bullpen allowed just one hit in 7.2 innings of scoreless relief.
KYLE SIMONDS has worked the most innings, weaving 13.2 scoreless frames, scattering nine hits and four walks while striking out 13 in six appearances. He is 1-0 and owns one of the Aggies' eight saves, a four-inning outing in the season opener against Holy Cross. TY SCHLOTTMANN has been called on the most, with 11 appearances. The southpaw has worked 11.0 frames, earning a 1-0 record with 0.82 ERA, scattering six hits and two walks while striking out eight. Eighth-inning set-up man ANDREW VINSON and dual closers RYAN HENDRIX and MARK ECKER have combined to work 25.0 scoreless innings – Vinson is 2-0, allowing three hits while striking out six over 7.2 innings in seven outings; Hendrix has four saves and has scattered six hits and two walks while striking out eight over 9.1 innings in seven outings; Ecker has three saves and has allowed just two hits while striking out 11 over 8.0 innings in seven outings.
SEEMS LIKE JUST LAST YEAR
Texas A&M is averaging 2.1 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 18 games in 2014 and 2015.
|
|
2014 |
2015 |
|
W-L |
13-5 |
18-0 |
|
Batting Average |
.281 |
.304 |
|
Runs Per Game |
5.4 |
7.5 |
|
Runs |
98 |
135 |
|
Home Runs |
8 |
20 |
|
RBI |
90 |
125 |
|
Slugging Percentage |
.384 |
.481 |
|
On-Base Percentage |
.370 |
.411 |
STREAKS
• Last Saturday, NICK BANKS had a career-long 13-game hit streak snapped. The sophomore batted .438 (21-for-48) with four doubles, one triple, one home run and 14 RBI over the span. Banks has logged hits in 16 of the 17 games he's played in this season.
• NICK BANKS has reached base (via walk, HBP or hit) in all 17 game he's played in 2015. He owns a .507 on-base percentage with 28 hits, seven walks and two HBP over the span.
• KYLE SIMONDS is on a 13.2 inning scoreless streak, covering five outings. He's scattered nine hits and four walks while striking out 13 over the span.
• RYAN HENDRIX is unscored upon in seven outings in 2015, covering 9.1 innings. He's scattered six hits and two walks while striking out eight over the span.
• ANDREW VINSON is unscored upon in eight outings in 2015, covering 7.2 innings. He's scattered three hits while striking out six over the span.
• MARK ECKER has not allowed a run in his last 10 career outings, covering 12.0 innings. He's scattered three hits and two walks while striking out 11 over the span.
• MITCHELL NAU is on a career-long eight-game hit streak. He's batting .400 (10-for-25) with six runs, three doubles and six RBI over the span.
• The Aggies own a 16-game win streak at Blue Bell Park dating back to the 2014 season.
A FRIDAY NIGHT FIX?
One of the things that doomed the Aggies in 2014 was an inability to win the opening game of the weekend. Last year, A&M struggled the first night of series, going 3-11 in openers (3-13 if you count the SEC Tournament and NCAA Houston Regional). This season, the Maroon and White have already exceeded the opening night win tally with a 4-0 mark. On Friday nights, the Aggies are batting .311 and they have hit 10 of their 20 home runs. The pitching staff owns a 1.00 ERA and is holding opponents to a .180 batting average in series/tournament openers. Last year, A&M hit .227 in their series openers, averaging just 3.21 runs per game. The pitching staff posted a 3.62 ERA and yielded a .249 batting average to foes.
HOUSTON COLLEGE CLASSIC CHAMPS
The Aggies claimed the title at the Houston College Classic. Both A&M and LSU finished the tournament 3-0, but the Aggies sported a better scoring margin (+8 - 11-3) than the Tigers (+6 - 10-4). It was the first time in eight trips to Minute Maid Park that A&M went 3-0 in the tournament. The Aggies opened the classic with a 2-1 win over Nebraska and added a 6-0 win over No. 16 Houston and 3-2 win over Baylor.
GRAYSON LONG earned the Most Outstanding Player award at the tournament. He worked 7.0 scoreless innings against Houston, scattering three hits while striking out 10 with no walks. Long was joined on the All-Tournament Team by MICHAEL BARASH, JB MOSS and MATT KENT.
QUICK DRAW
The Aggies are outscoring opponents a combined 42-6 in the first two innings of games, including 22-4 in first innings and 20-2 in second innings.
In the first inning of games, the Aggies are batting .320 (24-for-75) with a .436 on-base percentage and .480 slugging percentage. The Maroon and White have drawn 15 walks and have been hit by two pitches. The extra-base hits include seven doubles, one triple and one home run.
In the first inning of games, the A&M pitching staff has held opponents to a .227 batting average (15-for-66) and have struck out 23 of the 72 batters they've faced (31.9%).
In the second inning of games, the Aggies are batting .329 (23-for-70) with a .449 on-base percentage and .586 slugging percentage. The Maroon and White have drawn 12 walks and have been hit by five pitches. The extra-base hits include four doubles, one triple and four home runs.
In the second inning of games, the A&M pitching staff has held opponents to a .209 batting average (14-for-67) and have struck out 20 of the 68 batters they've faced (29.4%).
NINTH-INNING CLAMPS
The Aggie pitching staff has yet to yield a run in the ninth inning or extra innings, a body of work that includes 20.0 innings. The bullpen has allowed just 10 hits and four walks in the 20.0 innings, with 24 strikeouts. MARK ECKER has accounted for 8.0 innings, yielding only two hits while striking out 11. RYAN HENDRIX has worked 6.0 innings, scattering four hits while striking out seven.
FINISHING STRONG
Texas A&M has outscored opponents 48-11 combined in innings 7-9 plus extra innings, including 25-3 in the seventh inning and 22-8 in the eighth inning. Neither the Aggies nor their opponents have scored in the ninth inning, but A&M has batted in the ninth just twice while the foe has gotten their ninth-inning hacks in all 18 games. Texas A&M is outscoring foes 1-0 in extra innings.
CLOSE SHAVES
The Aggies' road to 18-0 has had a few close calls.
Twice the Aggies trailed 3-0 going to the eighth inning, but escaped with victories. A&M trailed Dartmouth by three headed to the eighth of the series opener, but two-run dingers by HUNTER MELTON and LOGAN TAYLOR pulled victory from the jaws of defeat. The Aggies beat UTPA 4-3 in 11 innings after falling behind 3-0. In the eighth, BLAKE KOPETSKY drew a leadoff walk and, with one out, LOGAN TAYLOR and GR HINSLEY hit back-to-back pinch-hit doubles and BLAKE ALLEMAND followed with the game-tying single. In the 11th, RONNIE GIDEON plated the winning run with a sacrifice fly.
At the Houston College Classic, the Aggies need an eighth-inning solo home run by JB MOSS to post a 2-1 win over Nebraska and held off a late charge by Baylor to post a 3-2 victory.
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 five occasions this season, going 5-0. The uniforms have been especially friendly to the pitching staff that owns a 1.72 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 47.0 innings of work in the look.
MORE PITCHING AND BULLPEN NOTES
· In the last 12 games, the Aggie bullpen has allowed three runs in 44.2 innings of work dating back to the Saturday contest against Penn State. The relief pitchers have scattered 25 hits and nine walks while striking out 38 over the span. The run includes six bullpen wins and seven saves. The stretch included a string of 23.0 consecutive innings without yielding a run. Aggie relievers own a 0.60 ERA and have held opponents to a .168 batting average over the span.
· In the last 15 games, Texas A&M pitchers have held opponents to 112 hits and 29 walks while striking out 139 in 137.0 innings of work. The staff owns a 1.38 ERA, .224 opponent batting average and 1.03 WHIP during the span.
· The Aggie pitching staff was the talk of the Houston College Classic. The staff combined to post a 0.67 ERA and hold opponents to a .156 batting average during the tournament. A&M allowed three runs, just two earned, in 27.0 innings of work. The Aggies came two botched pickoff attempts away from allowing just one run total for the three games. The staff sported a 7.5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (30/4) and a miniscule 0.67 WHIP.
PICKING UP STEAM
The Aggies' weekend starting rotation had their most outstanding performance in their most recent whirl. They sported their best combined numbers across the board in the Houston College Classic.
STARTING PITCHER COMBINED STATISTICS
|
|
ERA |
W-L |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
OBA |
WHIP |
K/BB |
|
Holy Cross |
2.87 |
2-0 |
15.2 |
14 |
9 |
5 |
7 |
15 |
.230 |
1.34 |
2.14 |
|
Penn State |
1.02 |
3-0 |
17.2 |
15 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
18 |
.224 |
1.19 |
3.00 |
|
Dartmouth |
2.50 |
2-0 |
18.0 |
19 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
19 |
.271 |
1.28 |
4.75 |
|
Houston College Classic |
0.93 |
2-0 |
19.1 |
13 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
25 |
.191 |
0.72 |
25.00 |
FOR STARTERS
Aggie starting pitchers have been solid in 2015, posting an 11-0 record with a 1.76 ERA after 18 games. A&M starters are holding opponents to a .242 batting and boast a 4.24-to-1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio (106/25). Matt Kent is 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA, allowing nine runs, seven earned, in 27.0 innings of work. The junior lefty boasts three of A&M's four longest starts. He has issued just two walks on the season, while striking out 26. After a rough outing his first time out, GRAYSON LONG has regrouped in his last three starts. Over the span, he is 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA in 19.0 innings of work. He has allowed just two runs, one earned, on 13 hits and three walks while striking out 17 during the stretch. Missing a start this weekend, AJ Minter (3-0) owns a 0.43 ERA, has held opponents to a .213 batting average and has allowed just six runs, one earned, while striking out 29 in 21.0 innings over his first four starts.
DINGER WATCH
The Aggies already have 20 home runs on the season. Last year, A&M didn't hit their 20th home run until the 50th game of the season and hit just 25 home runs on the year. The Aggies had just eight home runs at this point in the season in 2014. A&M has hit 10 of their 20 home runs on Friday nights.
UP NEXT
The Aggies wrap up the current six-game homestand Tuesday as they host the Prairie View A&M Panthers in a 6:35 pm contest.
