Conference play is underway in the nation's very best — the SEC — and No. 2 Texas A&M held serve in its series at Auburn. However, there are a few kinks to be worked out in short order before a two-week stretch that may define the Aggies' season.

It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't easy. Yet, despite trailing entering the seventh inning and falling behind in the 13th, despite missing its best player, Texas A&M used a bit of Olsen Magic on Tuesday to defeat a regional team and its ace and improve to 8-1 on the season.

Facing the possibility of elimination, the Aggies turned to Andrew Vinson in hopes of earning a rematch with California later in the day. Thanks to seven strong innings and a duo of homers, they got their wish.

As it has all weekend, A&M came to play on the offensive end. Despite three homeruns, the Aggies could not shake a resurgent Gamecocks team. Kyle Simonds made it one inning and A&M was behind early and often

On a cold evening that stretched into the night, A&M reached 25-0 in non conference games with a walk off single from Logan Nottebrok. Matt Kent pitched more than five perfect innings in relief along the way.

A&M fought valiantly on Thursday night. Grayson long threw six strong innings and after claiming an early lead and tying things up headed to the bottom of the ninth, the Ags suffered a heartbreaking loss to #1 LSU.

A&M jumped out to an early 11-0 lead on the strength of Logan Taylor's five RBI's before Arkansas struck back. After allowing six runs in the sixth, the Ags had to grind out the victory but improved to 35-3.

Tuesday night saw A&M rely on its deep bullpen and some timely defense to get their 17th win, this one over UTPA. Andrew Vinson pushed his scoreless streak to 13 innings and Nick Banks had two RBI's in the victory.

Friday afternoon saw A&M travel for the first time this season. Outside the walls of Olsen, they pulled off their most improbable win yet. J.B. Moss had both Aggie RBI's, his last came on a go ahead homer in the eighth.

On Friday night at Olsen Field, Texas A&M looked as if they were going to suffer their first loss of the season until two eighth inning home runs from Hunter Melton and Logan Taylor put them on top for good.

Overmatched opponent or not, the ball flew around and out of Olsen Field over the weekend at a rate Aggies haven't often seen in years. Stars were stars and the mistakes were correctable in a flashy season opener.

Opening Day awaits again, in all its mystique and promise. Counting down the days until Friday, we begin a five-part series with a look at A&M's likely rotation, a surprising option at closer and how the rest shake out.

Defensive fundamentals. Timely hitting. Great (not good) pitching. All eluded the Aggies on Monday, and all proved insurmountably costly. As the roller-coaster '14 ride comes to an end, it's a bittersweet look back.

The Houston Regional came down to one final battle between old rivals, but the Aggies squandered a key early opportunity on Monday and were lost thereafter in a 4-1, season-ending defeat at Texas' hands.

Seven Aggies picked up at least one hit and six A&M pitchers combined on a six-hit, one-run performance on Tuesday, making a close game feel anything but and earning a key victory in the NCAA tourney race.

Nothing came easy in a non-stop battle between the Aggies and Tigers, continuing through a late tie on Sunday. With one swing Ronnie Gideon put A&M ahead and earned a victory with several big implications.

For the third straight mid-week contest, Corey Ray gave A&M a strong start; for the third straight such occasion, the Aggies won. Every Aggie recorded at least one hit in Tuesday's dominant performance.

Texas A&M sophomore left-hander Ty Schlottmann came on in relief in the first inning and tossed 6.2 scoreless innings, but it was not enough as the Aggies allowed three in the ninth to fall to Kentucky, 6-3.