The Aggies are one of two unbeaten teams in the NCAA, but they prepare to meet their toughest tests to date as they leave the confines of Olsen Field.
The Texas A&M baseball team rides a 13-0 record heading into the Minute Maid Classic in Houston this weekend. A&M will face off against Nebraska, No. 8 Houston and Baylor over the weekend.
The No. 11 Aggies feature a deep, powerful lineup that is a pitcher’s nightmare — seven Aggie starters have double-digit RBIs on the year, and eight of them have hit at least one home run this season. Sophomore right fielder Nick Banks leads the team with 14 RBIs on the year, and Logan Taylor leads the team with five home runs this year.
Three Aggie hitters are batting with an average over .400, led by Mitchell Nau, who has a .450 average.
The classic gets started on Friday afternoon, as A&M will face off against former Big 12 foe Nebraska. The Cornhuskers (6-4) are led offensively by Blake Healdey, who is batting .351 with 13 RBIs, along with five doubles and one triple.
A.J. Minter will most likely be on the mound for the Aggies on Friday. Minter leads the team in ERA (0.56) and in strikeouts (23). Nebraska will send out Chance Sinclair.
Saturday, the Aggies face their first top 25 team of the season, taking on No. 8 Houston. The Cougars (8-5) have a lineup that features three players with double-digit RBIs. Connor Wong leads the team with 14 RBIs, but the player to watch is infielder Chris Iriart, who has 11 RBI with three home runs while batting .348.
Houston will send Jake Lemoine to the mound on Saturday, while A&M will send out Grayson Long. The junior pitcher is 2-0 for the Aggies in three appearances with 12 total strikeouts.
In the finale on Sunday, A&M will take on Baylor. The Bears (6-5) are 0-3 away from home, and were recently swept by Cal State Fullerton. Logan Brown leads the Bears, batting .359 with 8 RBIs.
A&M will send junior Matt Kent out to pitch, who is 3-0 in three appearances this year with 17 strikeouts and a 2.29 ERA. Baylor will send Austin Stone to the mound on Sunday.
Two games stand between SEC play for the Aggies, which starts next weekend.