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Texas A&M Baseball: Series Preview Mississippi State

By Matthew Bartlett

Oct 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A baseball sits on top of first base before game one of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A baseball sits on top of first base before game one of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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After starting 0-5 in conference play, the Texas A&M Baseball has the opportunity to commandeer the top spot in the SEC with a series win over Mississippi State.

It was hard to imagine that Texas A&M would find themselves within reach of a conference title. This was expected to be a rebuilding year. However, if the Aggies are able to hold serve at home this weekend they’ll put themselves in the drivers seat in the SEC.

The Aggies enter the weekend with an RPI of 31 and an outside shot at a regional host spot. Boyd’s World projects that a perfect home record and one road win over the remaining three weeks will be enough to earn the regional host spot.

Before the hosting conversation can truly be had in earnest the Aggies need to win their sixth consecutive SEC series. And they’ll have to do it against the No. 12 team in the nation, Mississippi State.

Schedule

  • Thursday: 6:30 p.m. CT, Watch: ESPNU
  • Friday: 6:30 p.m. CT, Watch: SECN+
  • Sunday: 1:00 p.m. CT, Watch: ESPNU

Probably Pitching Matchups

  • Thursday:  No. 15 Brigham Hill (Jr., RHP, 6-3, 2.62 ERA) vs. No. 48 Konnor Pilkington (So, LHP, 5-3, 3.10 ERA)
  • Friday:  No. 12 Corbin Martin (Jr., RHP, 5-2, 3.13 ERA) vs. TBA

    • Saturday:

    No. 32

    Stephen Kolek

    (So., RHP, 3-2, 3.52 ERA) vs. TBA

    More from Texas A&M Baseball

    Texas A&M Player to Watch

    It starts and ends with Brigham Hill. A strong outing from Texas A&M’s ace sets the rest of the pitching staff up for a success. Hill has gone seven innings in back to back starts. The Aggies won both of those games and both of those series.

    Corbin Martin has improved, but he hasn’t reached a point where he can be depended on for seven innings every week. If Hill can set the tone on day one that keeps guys like Kaylor Chafin and John Doxakis ready in the wings for the remainder of the weekend.

    Mississippi State Player to Watch

    Brent Rooker is hitting .413 with .913 slugging percentage, 19 home runs and 64 RBI. All of those marks lead the SEC. He’s been named the SEC player of the week three times so far this season and nobody has been able to hold him down for an entire season yet. For Texas A&M, the number one objective this weekend is to limit the damage down by Rooker.

    The Aggie offense woke up from its slumber against Missouri this past weekend, scoring 25 runs over the three game series. The bottom five spots of the lineup, which has had a tough year at the plate, went 10-17 against HBU in the Tuesday contest. Mississippi State is going to score. If the Aggie bats can at find a way to be productive they should be able to take this series at home.

    ***Stats from 12thman.com, hailstate.com***