I think Sdao can do it. If he stays ahead and gets some confidence. However, he is prone to give up deep balls to the outfield. We putting TK back out there to actually track the incoming bombs? Seems to me that too many have been dropping in for singles/doubles. Flying out is great; doubling f'ings sucks.
Photo by Wesley Bowers, Texas A&M Athletics
Click here to view Thursday’s College Station Regional Press Conference.
Belief.
That’s the sentiment expressed by Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley in left-handed pitcher Shane Sdao.
Those comments came moments after the Aggie skipper tabbed the southpaw as his starter for the College Station Regional opener vs. Lamar.
“The amount of belief I have in Shane is through the roof,” Earley said. “I’m excited for him to get out there tomorrow.”
Sdao, a redshirt junior from Montgomery, will toe the rubber at Blue Bell Park for the 3 p.m. CT contest on Friday.
It’ll be his 13th start of 2026, but his first since May 2. After recording just three outs and surrendering six runs, Sdao fell out of A&M’s rotation after beginning the year as the Friday night ace.
Across his 15 previous appearances, his line is an unimpressive 4-4 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 68.0 innings pitched.
“The amount of belief I have in Shane is through the roof. I’m excited for him to get out there tomorrow.”
“For him personally, he hasn’t had the season he’s wanted, but seasons can be made in the postseason,” Earley said. “I’m really excited for him because Shane is not a guy you bet against.”
To that point, Sdao has performed well in previous postseason performances, so turning to him is more than just hope and a prayer.
As a freshman in 2023, he allowed one hit across four scoreless innings in a 12-7 win over Cal State Fullerton at Stanford.
In 2024, Louisiana scratched one run against him in 5.1 innings as Sdao’s winning effort clinched a regional championship.
The belief is he’ll regain that form vs. a Southland club that has fewer than 40 home runs to its credit. Of course, Sdao’s bugaboo has been the longball, watching 15 of them sail out of ballparks this spring.
“We expect a really good one out of him tomorrow,” Earley said.
The head coach’s belief is also in his offense, which is led by All-SEC first-teamers Gavin Grahovac, Caden Sorrell and Chris Hacopian. Further, the Aggies are receiving reinforcements as Nico Partida returns to action.
Danny Grant, TexAgs
Friday will be Michael Earley’s first NCAA Tournament game as a head coach.
A&M ranks fourth nationally in slugging (.567), fifth in homers per game (2.15), seventh in scoring (9.0) and 14th in on-base percentage (.421).
But can the Maroon & White find a way to maroon the Southland Pitcher of the Year?
“They’ve had an unbelievable year,” Earley said of Lamar. “Really good on the mound, offensively as well. It’s a complete team. It’s going to be tough. That’s why they won their league. … They’re really, really good, and they’re going to be tough to deal with.”
Elite pitching will greet the Aggies this weekend.
First, it’ll be Lamar right-hander Chris Olivier, who has a 1.05 WHIP while striking out 103 in 88.0 innings.
On Saturday, it could be Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Mason Edwards, who is being held out of USC’s opener vs. Texas State. The left-hander owns a K/9 average over 16.0.
“Excited to get out there. A lot of tough teams. A lot of tough opponents,” Earley said. “I like our guys, and I like our competitiveness, and I like our character, so we’re excited to get out there and play.”
If he likes Sdao’s start, Earley’s belief in more postseason success would grow even larger.
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