EXHIBITION PREVIEW: Sam Houston State

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies host the Sam Houston State Bearkats in an exhibition game Friday evening on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. Start time is 6 p.m.

Admission and parking is free.

The contest comes with the Aggies wrapping up their second week of fall practice.

Texas A&M finished the 2018 campaign with a 40-22 mark. The Maroon & White made their 34th NCAA Championship appearance overall and their 12th in a row.

The Aggies' return 17 letterwinners and six starting position players for the 2019 season. All-American Braden Shewmake returns after batting .327 with 43 runs and 45 RBI as a sophomore. Other returning starters include Logan Foster (.327, 8 HR, 40 RBI), Allonte Wingate (.304, 24 runs, 11 RBI), Will Frizzell (.295, 6 HR, 35 RBI), Zach DeLoach (.264, 39 runs, 27 RBI) and Hunter Coleman (.247, 5 HR, 39 RBI).

Sam Houston State finished 39-20 in 2018, including a 24-6 mark in the Southland Conference. Skippered by former Aggie assistant coach Matt Deggs, the Bearkats won the program's sixth Southland Conference title last season.