Sports
Rafa Jódar llega al límite en los cuartos de Roma ante Darderi y mira a París
Marca
SportsPreview
High stakes at Blue Bell: Texas A&M, MSU face off in SEC showdown
TL;DR
Texas A&M faces Mississippi State in a crucial SEC matchup with significant postseason implications. Both teams are vying for favorable regional hosting positions in the NCAA tournament.
Key points
- Texas A&M and Mississippi State face off in SEC showdown
- Postseason implications are significant for both teams
- Mississippi State aims to host a regional at Dudy Noble Field
- Texas A&M could secure a national seed with strong performance
- Mississippi State has a 35-17 overall record
Mentioned in this story
Brian O'Connor
Texas A&MMississippi State
Blue Bell Park is the site of another SEC showdown this weekend as Texas A&M faces Mississippi State with massive postseason implications on the line.
In his first season as head coach of the Bulldogs, Brian O'Connor has his club contending for an opportunity to host a regional at Dudy Noble Field. D1 Baseball's latest Field of 64 has Mississippi State (No. 12) hosting the Starkville Regional against Oklahoma State, NC State and Southeastern Louisiana, matched up in the bracket against the Raleigh Regional.
Meanwhile, the Aggies should be a lock to host a regional, but they still have an opportunity to secure a national seed with an impressive performance against the Bulldogs. Projections have Texas A&M hosting Cincinnati, UTSA and Binghamton in the Bryan-College Station Regional.
The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 35-17 overall record and a 15-12 mark in SEC play, with eight ranked wins on their résumé. The second-best hitting team in the SEC will challenge a limited Aggie bullpen, with multiple injuries creating holes in the pitching staff.
Here are the top storylines to follow for Texas A&M's regular-season finale against Mississippi State at Olsen Field:
Battle on the mound
Texas A&M:
The Aggies are battling injuries as they continue to search for a definitive starting rotation entering the final SEC series of the regular season. Michael Earley announced Aiden Sims will be absent on the mound due to tightness, leaving questions for Friday's and Saturday's starting pitchers.
Left-hander Ethan Darden will start Game 1 after allowing two hits, two walks and two earned runs in two innings in the series opener against Ole Miss last weekend. The Clemson transfer replaced Shane Sdao, who had been Texas A&M's go-to Friday starter. With Sims out, Sdao could start on Friday or Sunday, depending on how Earley and pitching coach Jason Kelly want to manage things against a dangerous Mississippi State lineup.
Mississippi State:
The Bulldogs' pitching staff began SEC play on fire, boasting one of the top team ERAs and total strikeouts in the conference. Ryan McPherson's injury took a toll on the starting rotation, but State has bounced back nicely with some solid outings out of Tomas Valincius, who is third in the league with a 2.52 ERA this season.
Q&A
What are the postseason implications for Texas A&M and Mississippi State?
Texas A&M is looking to secure a national seed, while Mississippi State aims to host a regional at Dudy Noble Field.
What is Mississippi State's current record in SEC play?
Mississippi State has a 15-12 record in SEC play and a 35-17 overall record.
Who is the head coach of Mississippi State baseball?
Brian O'Connor is in his first season as head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
What challenges does Texas A&M face in their pitching staff?
Texas A&M's bullpen is limited due to multiple injuries, creating vulnerabilities in their pitching staff.
