Texas A&M
Alabama
Series Preview: Alabama
May 11, 2023 | Baseball
Week 13: Alabama
- May 12-14, 2023
- Blue Bell Park
- Game Notes • Live Stats • SEC Standings • App
GAME ONE
- Friday, May 12 • 6 p.m. • SEC Network+
- Texas A&M: RHP Nathan Dettmer
- Stats: 1-3, 6.19 ERA, 52.1 IP, 51 K, 34 BB
- Bama: RHP Luke Holman
- Stats: 2-0, 3.04 ERA, 26.2 IP, 36 K, 12 BB
GAME TWO
- Saturday, May 13 • 12 p.m. • SEC Network+
- Texas A&M: LHP Troy Wansing
- Stats: 2-2, 6.05 ERA, 38.2 IP, 57 K, 27 BB
- Bama: RHP Garrett McMillan
- Stats: 1-2, 5.01 ERA, 23.1 IP, 18 K, 8 BB
GAME THREE
- Sunday, May 14 • 3 p.m. • SEC Network
- Texas A&M: TBA
- Stats: --
- Bama: RHP Jacob McNairy
- Stats: 5-1, 3.88 IP, 55.2 IP, 52 K, 12 BB
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies will take the field at Blue Bell Park for the final time this season when they host Alabama for a three-game series, beginning with the series opener on Friday night.
The Aggies, Crimson Tide and Auburn all enter the weekend tied for third in the SEC West after picking up series wins over teams ranked in the national top-five. A&M picked up a key series win over No. 4 Florida while Alabama defended its home turf with a series win over No. 5 Vanderbilt.
GAME COVERAGE
TV/STREAMING: Each of the first 2 games are set to be aired on SEC Network+ with Will Johnson and Boomer White calling the action... things will move over to the SEC Network for the Sunday finale with Tom Hart and Kyle Peterson.
RADIO: Each game can also be heard locally on SportsRadio 1150 AM/93.7 FM The Zone.... Andrew Monaco will be in the booth with JB Moss providing analysis... Scott Clendenin will join the pair in the booth for the series finale... the pregame show begins 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
SOCIAL: Fans can get in-game updates on social media by following @AggieBaseball on Twitter.
PARKING AROUND BLUE BELL PARK
Due to Texas A&M Commencement ceremonies taking place this weekend at Reed Arena, please be prepared for temporary parking adjustments for Aggie Baseball games on Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13.
PROMOTIONS AT THE BALLPARK
FRIDAY
Friday's series opener will include the Friday Night Postgame Fireworks, which have been scheduled for each Friday night home game during SEC play.
SATURDAY
It's Senior Day for the Aggies with the 2023 senior class being honored prior to the start of play. The senior class includes Austin Bost, Matt Dillard, Carson Lambert, Brett Minnich and Jordan Thompson.
After the game, make sure to grab a commemorative poster print from live painter, Matt Miller who captured the Aggies win over Ole Miss earlier in the season. Prints will be available for fans to pick up as they exit the stadium once the game has concluded
SUNDAY
It'll be Sunday Funday a day early for the finale vs the Crimson Tide with kids 12-years old and under able to run the bases and get autographs following the conclusion of the game. There will be a giveaway for maroon youth Aggie script shirts, and the game will serve as a double-point game for 12th Man Rewards. Kids can get face paint on the 1st base concourse by the playground. Lines close at the end of the first inning. Kids can also pick up "Aggies" script white t-shirts, available for the first 500 kids at the Howdy Team table on the concourse by Sec. 106.
AGAINST THE CRIMSON TIDE
- The Aggies are 19-12 all-time against Alabama, including 9-6 at Blue Bell Park
- The teams played four times in 2022 with the Tide winning the series in Tuscaloosa before the Aggies picked up a 12-8 win in the SEC Tournament in Hoover
- A&M will be looking for its first series win over Alabama in Bryan-College Station since a sweep of the Crimson Tide in 2018
TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SERIES WIN OVER FLORIDA
- The Aggies 3-2 in in Game 3 was the second time this year to win a game when scoring less than five runs (4-2 win over Texas Tech in 16 innings on 3/5 was the other)
- The Aggies did not commit an error in the series. It was the first time in 2023 with an error-free weekend and the first time for a full weekend series without a defensive miscue since playing doing so in a sweep of Cornell in February of 2018. They also were error-free against UTRGV on Tuesday and enter Friday with a streak of 39 straight innings without an error
- Aggie pitchers allowed six home runs to Gator hitters. The first was a 2-run shot on Friday by BT Riopelle, but each of the final five homers allowed were of the solo variety
- Aggie starters Nathan Dettmer, Troy Wansing and Will Johnston combined to throw 13.0 innings in their three starts. It is the most combined innings by Aggie starters in a series in SEC play in 2023
- The series win was the first over the Gators since 2014
STACKING WEEKENDS IN THE SCHLOSS ERA
Since Jim Schlossnagle took over the Aggie program for the 2022 season the Aggies have won 13 SEC series, which is the most among SEC programs in that span. They entered last weekend tied with LSU, Tennessee and Florida with 12 series wins over the past 2 seasons, but moved ahead of those programs after the Tigers, Volunteers and Gators all dropped their series last weekend.
ON THE RUN
The Aggies have been at their near best when they've been on the bases this season, ranking second to Kentucky in the league with 75 successful stolen bases. But what is more impressive is they've it in just 88 attempts, and the 89.7 percent success rate is the best among all SEC teams with at least 50 steals this year.
They moved past the Wildcats and Bulldogs in those categories on the strength of a huge night on the bases vs UTRGV, successfully stealing 9 bases from the Vaqueros with 5 coming in a 5-run seventh inning. The 9 stelas is the most by an Aggie team in a single game since A&M set its program record with 12 in a win over Northwestern State on February 10, 2006.
BOST NEARING MORE MILESTONES
Austin Bost continues to add to his career totals as an Aggie and sits as the active leader on the roster in games played, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and walks. He enters Tuesday with 189 career hits and with 11 more base hits this year would become the first Aggie since Braden Shewmake in 2019 to reach the 200-hit mark during an Aggie career. Bost also has socked 27 home runs in his career and needs 2 more to tie Brodie Greene's total of 29, which currently stands alone as 10th all-time at Texas A&M.
LAVIOLETTE NOT LOOKING LIKE A FRESHMAN
Aggie outfielder Jace LaViolette earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after his big series at Auburn, and has continued his strong play within the SEC since. He leads the Aggies with 12 home runs and 44 RBI, along with 13 stolen bases. The home run total is the most by an Aggie freshman since John Byington set the program freshman record with 17 dingers in his rookie season in 1987.
SERIES PREVIEW PRESS CONFERENCE
