Around Aggieland (5/2)
On Friday’s edition of TexAgs Live, Callie Garner took us Around Aggieland as several programs are gearing up for postseason action. Baseball takes on a top-two opponent, tennis is set to host the NCAA First and Second Rounds and a new addition joins the basketball roster.
Softball
No. 12 Texas A&M opened its final SEC series with a statement win on Thursday night, as All-American Emiley Kennedy tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the Aggies past No. 2 Tennessee, 1-0, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville.
After six scoreless innings, Koko Wooley broke the tie with a two-out RBI double to left center in the top of the seventh. Emiley Kennedy then closed the door in the bottom half, working around a hit batter with a groundout and two strikeouts to seal the win.
The Aggies improved to 42-8 overall and 15-6 in SEC play. Game two is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m., followed by the series finale at 4 p.m.
Baseball
Texas A&M baseball is set for a top-tier SEC battle this weekend, hosting No. 2 LSU at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
The Aggies (25-19, 8-13 SEC) will face their fourth top-two opponent of the season. LSU enters the weekend at 37-9 overall and 14-7 in conference play.
A&M is coming off a 13-6 midweek win over Lamar on Tuesday, its ninth straight midweek victory. Junior Ben Royo led the way, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and a career-high eight RBIs. He is hitting .615 (8-for-13) over the past four games.
Game two is set for Saturday at 2 p.m., with the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Basketball
Texas A&M added frontcourt depth on Friday with the commitment of former Texas Tech forward Federiko Federiko.
The 6-foot-11, 215-pound senior averaged 5.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game last season while shooting 74.3 percent from the field. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
The Finland native is expected to take on a larger role for new head coach Bucky McMillan and could be a projected starter in the Aggies’ frontcourt.
Tennis
Postseason action begins Friday at the Mitchell Tennis Center as the No. 2 Texas A&M women’s tennis team opens NCAA Tournament play against Quinnipiac. Due to weather concerns, first serve is now scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
The Aggies (67-match home win streak) defeated Quinnipiac 4-0 in last year’s NCAA first round and will face the winner of Rice vs. UC Santa Barbara in the second round.
On the men’s side, Texas A&M will take on Rice in the NCAA First Round at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. The winner will face either Baylor or Nebraska at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Second Round, also at Mitchell Tennis Center.