Texas A&M is still kicking in this baseball season. The Aggies are living game to game right now, as they are currently outside projections for the postseason field of 64. While an at-large bid could be off the table, this team is looking to lock in an automatic qualifier if they are able to fight their way through the gauntlet in Hoover.
In game one, they looked like a team that could do just that. The Ags knocked off a red-hot Mississippi State squad in emphatic fashion, winning 9-0 over the Bulldogs to send them packing. However, one game is not enough: the Aggies still have quite the road in front of them.
The next step on that road confronts them today. The weather delay that pushed the Aggies' game against Mississippi State to an early morning start yesterday has A&M's next game also beginning early today, against the Auburn Tigers.
Texas A&M faces off with Auburn Tigers to keep flickering postseason hopes alive
The Aggies didn't face projected first-rounder Ike Irish and the Tigers in the regular season, but Auburn has been really solid this year. This won't be an easy task by any means for the Aggies, but they have the skill to get it done.
What will they need to pull through? Justin Lamkin will be taking the mound today for the Aggies, and his last time out, he pitched a complete game shutout against the Georgia Bulldogs. If he can recapture that form today, then the Ags will be in good shape.
Another thing they need to keep going is the hot streak from Jace LaViolette. The Aggies' star was in a huge slump headed into yesterday's game, but he broke out of it in a big way, knocking in a grand slam to break the game open.
If Jace and others can keep producing at the plate, even without Caden Sorrell taking at-bats, that will go a long way as well— the bugaboo for this team all year has been on the offensive side. First pitch is scheduled for just after 11 AM CT.