Putting its seven-game winning streak on the line, the No.5 Texas A&M baseball team jumps back into Big 12 play this weekend with a visit to Manhattan, Kan., to battle Kansas State in a three-game series at Tointon Family Stadium.
Game times are set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. for the series finale on Sunday. Saturday’s game will be televised on Fox Sports-Kansas City and Fox College Sports, and fans are encouraged to check with your cable provider for availability.
The Aggies (20-5) enter the weekend holding the top spot in the Big 12 standings with a 5-1 league mark, while the Wildcats (15-9) will look to improve their 1-5 conference record.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY (APRIL 1)
Texas A&M – #12 John Stilson (Jr., RHP, 1-1, 1.05)
Kansas State – #32 Kyle Hunter (Jr., LHP, 2-1, 2.45)
SATURDAY (APRIL 2)
Texas A&M – #38 Michael Wacha (So., RHP, 4-1, 0.60)
Kansas State – #15 Matt Applegate (Jr., RHP, 3-1, 2.89)
SUNDAY (APRIL 3)
Texas A&M – #36 Ross Stripling (Jr., RHP, 5-1, 0.76)
Kansas State – vs. #23 Kayvon Bahramzadeh (Jr. RHP, 1-0, 3.43)
FOLLOWING THE ACTION
• RADIO — Fans can listen locally on WTAW-AM 1620 Dave South (play-by-play) and Kevin Hurley (commentary) will call the action … pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
• INTERNET — aggieathletics.com will offer live play-by-play and statistics.
• MOBILE PHONE — listen to the game on your iPhone, Blackberry or PDA free of charge log on to radioaggieland.com for more information.
A&M/KANSAS STATE SERIES NOTABLES
Texas A&M leads the all-time series with Kansas State by a count of 36-11-1, including a 32-10-1 advantages since the schools became members of the Big 12 … last season, the Aggies took two of three games from the 23rd-ranked Wildcats at Olsen Field … during the last meeting between the two schools in Manhattan, KSU won two of three games from A&M at Tointon Family Statium … Texas A&M associate head coach Andy Sawyers spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons as an assistant coach at KSU, managing the team’s offense which became one of the top units in the Big 12.
UP NEXT
The Aggies host Houston in a 6:35 contest at Olsen Field on Tuesday before continuing their road-heavy stretch with a visit to Lubbock to battle Texas Tech next weekend.
NOTES AND NOTABLES
• The 5-1 start to conference play is the best for the Aggies since an identical 5-1 beginning to the 2002 Big 12 schedule. The best-ever start to Big 12 play by Texas A&M through the first two conference series is a 6-0 start in 1999.
• Entering this week, Texas A&M led the nation in team ERA at 1.56. Additionally, the Aggie pitching staff ranked among the country’s leaders in several other categories – second in walks allowed per nine innings (1.89), seventh in hits allowed per nine innings (6.82) and 27th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.3).
• Texas A&M’s defense has shown dramatic improvement this season as they lead the Big 12 and ranking fifth nationally with a .982 fielding percentage. The Aggies have only committed 18 errors through 25 games this season compared to 45 at the 25-game mark a season ago.
• During his last seven games, junior first baseman Jacob House is batting .433 (13-for-30) with 10 RBI and four multi-hit games.
• Freshman Krey Bratsen is the reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after helping lead the Aggies to a 4-0 record including a sweep of Kansas. The Bryan, Texas, native hit .438 (7-for-16) with a double, five RBI, two runs and two stolen bases during the week.
• Sophomore outfielder Tyler Naqiun has developed into one of the best hitters in the Big 12. The Spring, Texas, native has hit safely in 19 of 24 games this season and has reached back in three of the five games he has not recorded a hit.
• The Aggies are 19-1 this season when scoring two or more runs and 15-0 when scoring four or more runs. A&M has lost five games this season with four of the setbacks being of the one-run variety. Through the season’s first 21 games, the Aggies have held opponent to two runs or less 14 times.