Ducks venture to Blue Bell for Bryan-College Station Super Regional
What: 2024 Bryan-College Station Super Regional
Who: #3 Texas A&M vs. Oregon
Where: Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park – College Station, Texas
When:
- Saturday: 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
- Sunday: 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
- Monday - If necessary: TBD
The Texas A&M baseball team is just two wins away from a berth in the 2024 Men’s College World Series. Only the Oregon Ducks stand in the way of a trip to Omaha, the ultimate destination for every college team at the start of the season in February. The Aggies earned the privilege to play this super regional in the friendly confines of Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, and rest assured, “The Shack by the Track” will be full to the brim with rabid Aggie fans.
Here’s a brief capsule summary of both the Ducks and Aggies heading into this weekend’s play.
#3 Texas A&M Aggies
- RPI: 2
- Record: 47-13 (19-11 SEC)
- Team average: .299
- Slugging percentage: .559
- Home runs: 130
- Team ERA: 3.85
- Walks Allowed: 192
- Fielding percentage: .979
- Offense: 8.68 runs/game
- Defense: 4.22 runs/game
Top Pitchers
- Ryan Prager (8-1, 2.53 ERA, 113 K, 19 BB)
- Evan Aschenbeck (6-1, 1.64 ERA, 65 K, 8 BB)
- Shane Sdao (5-1, 2.61 ERA, 55 K, 9 BB)
- Chris Cortez (8-3, 3.14 ERA, 79 K, 26 BB)
Top Hitters
- Braden Montgomery (.322 avg, 27 HR, 85 RBI)
- Jace LaViolette (.315 avg, 28 HR, 74 RBI)
- Gavin Grahovac (.308 avg, 22 HR, 63 RBI)
- Jackson Appel (.322 avg, 14 stolen bases)
Scouting Texas A&M
Texas A&M swept through the Bryan-College Station Regional with a 3-0 mark, but it wasn’t without drama as the Maroon & White had to battle into extra innings to take down stubborn rival Texas last Saturday, 4-2. However, the power bats came alive in the regional championship against Louisiana with five long balls leaving the yard in a 9-4 win. Eight of the nine runs scored came via the home run, and that has been the main storyline for this team most of the season.
The power starts at the top of the lineup with All-SEC freshman Gavin Grahovac (22 HR), Jace LaViolette (28 HR) and regional MVP Braden Montgomery (27 HR). There’s a lot more to this Texas A&M offensive lineup, but if these three are clicking at the plate this weekend and depositing balls over the Blue Bell Park outfield wall, this team will be tough to stop.
While the A&M offense dominated the headlines for the first two months of the season, it has been the stellar performance by the pitching staff in recent weeks that has sustained the Aggies despite a recent cool streak by the offense. Ryan Prager has been a Friday night rock all season, and Evan Aschenbeck has been one of the best relievers in the college game in 2024. However, this staff has taken its game to a different level with the emergence of Shane Sdao as the No. 2 starter and the veteran Chris Cortez, who seems to have finally found his touch on his off-speed pitches to go along with his 100 mph fastball. If those four hurlers pitch like they did last weekend, the Aggies will be very hard to beat this weekend.
Oregon Ducks
- RPI: 52
- Record: 40-18 (19-11 Pac-12)
- Team average: .280
- Slugging percentage: .486
- Home runs: 93
- Team ERA: 4.62
- Walks Allowed: 261
- Fielding percentage: .977
- Offense: 6.98 runs/game
- Defense: 5.05 runs/game
Top Pitchers
- Grayson Grinsell (7-2, 3.82 ERA, 97 K, 42 BB)
- RJ Gordon (7-5, 4.73 ERA, 16 starts)
- Kevin Seitter (8-4, 4.52 ERA, 15 starts)
- Bradley Mullan (4-1, 1.66 ERA, 4 saves)
Top Hitters
- Jacob Walsh (.264 avg, 18 HR, 56 RBI)
- Mason Neville (.252 avg, 16 HR, 42 RBI, .669 slug)
- Maddox Molony (.333 avg, 10 HR, 38 RBI)
Scouting Oregon
Oregon was sent to the UC-Santa Barbara regional as the No. 3 seed last weekend behind the top-seeded Gauchos and No. 2 seed San Diego. After defeating the Toreros in extra innings, the Ducks beat No. 13 national seed UC-Santa Barbara twice in low-scoring affairs (2-1, 3-0) to win the regional and advance to play A&M in the super regionals this weekend.
The Ducks are led by a trio of solid starters in the pitching rotation. RJ Gordon has been the Game 1 workhorse most of the season, although his season numbers are pretty average, with a 7-5 record and a 4.73 ERA. He gave up three earned runs on six hits in the regional opener against San Diego. However, the stars of the weekend were the starters in games two and three — Grayson Grinsell and Kevin Seitter. The duo combined to throw 16 innings of shutout baseball to take down the national seed Gauchos twice. Over the course of their three-game regional sweep, the starting rotation allowed just three runs and 13 hits in 23 innings of action. The Ducks also have a capable closer in Bradley Mullan, with a 1.66 ERA and four saves. While the team’s season pitching stats aren’t sparkling, the staff has roared to life in the last month. In fact, Oregon pitching has not allowed more than four runs since May 11 over the course of nine games.
Offensively, the Ducks are not big run producers. They carry a meek team batting average of .280, although they are capable of hitting the long ball with 93 home runs on the season. Jacob Walsh is the biggest power threat with 18 homers and 56 RBI despite hitting .264. Mason Neville is another power bat to watch, with 16 home runs, 42 RBIs and a team-leading .669 slugging percentage. There is danger in the batting order, but the offensive production (6.98 runs/game) still pales in comparison to Texas A&M’s offensive output of 8.68 runs/game.
Statistical Comparisons – Bryan/College Station Super Regional
RPI
1. Texas A&M - 2
2. Oregon- 52
Team Batting Average
1. Texas A&M - .299
2. Oregon - .280
Home Runs
1. Texas A&M - 130
2. Oregon - 93
Team ERA
1. Texas A&M - 3.85
2. Oregon - 4.62
Walks Allowed
1. Texas A&M - 192
2. Oregon - 261
Fielding
1. Texas A&M - .979
2. Oregon - .977
