Injury update: Texas A&M will face top-ranked UCLA without heavy hitter in lineup

Texas A&M has released their lineup for tonight's huge showdown with the UCLA Bruins, and there was a notable name missing in the order— one that Aggie fans will be sure to miss in their biggest test yet this year. The Aggies will be without heavy-hitting transfer Chris Hacopian in tonight's game after he exited last night's contest early with apparent back stiffness.

Hacopian has dazzled in his short time in Aggieland, but he has already missed quite a few games with a back issue. It's not exactly exciting to see that flare up again in his first game back, especially since it means he'll miss Texas A&M's best early opportunity to announce themselves on a national stage.

Texas A&M baseball set to be without star transfer Chris Hacopian against no. 1-ranked UCLA Bruins

The Bruins dispatched with the Tennessee Volunteers last night in short order, as the Aggies did against the Virginia Tech Hokies. UCLA and Texas A&M could turn out to be the two best teams gathered in Arlington this weekend, but Arizona State and Mississippi State both have something to say about that as well.

If the Aggies are to make that case, however, they need to be at their best— and without Hacopian in the lineup, they simply aren't there. That said, if they can still pull off a big win without Hacopian, it would be even more massive for them given that they accomplished it not at full strength.

There is still plenty of power in the lineup, of course. Caden Sorrell and Gavin Grahovac have a reputation as elite offensive talents for a reason, and Baylor transfer Boston Kellner has been a nice surprise as well. Nico Partida, the freshman third baseman, is growing in notoriety himself.

The strength of this Texas A&M team so far, though, has been on the mound. Weston Moss will have maybe his biggest task of the year in front of him tonight, so if he can stay clean in this pitching performance, it will give the Ags a great chance.

Hacopian's absence is deleterious, but it's not the end of the world. The Aggies and Mike Earley will find out a lot about the makeup of this squad in tonight's game, but no matter what happens, we are still a little ways from seeing the ceiling of this team.