No. 10 Texas A&M (39-13, 18-11 SEC) took care of business this weekend after dropping Game 1 vs. Mississippi State on Thursday night, but rebounded over the next two days, including Saturday’s 7-6 rubber match victory, led by timely hitting by catcher Bear Harrison, who drove home two runs to take the final lead, while junior closer Clayton Freshcorn shutdown the Bulldogs in the top of the ninth.
Saturday’s massive win solidified the Aggies as the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament, set to face either Auburn, Oklahoma, or LSU on Friday night, earning a double-bye, which is great news for a beat-up roster that needs added rest, especially freshman third baseman Nico Partida, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury for the last couple of weeks.
For second-year coach Michael Earley, Texas A&M’s turnaround after missing the NCAA Tournament last season is nothing short of historical, especially after being picked to finish 13th in the SEC and dealing with pitching issues throughout the regular season.
While pitching coach Jason Kelly can certainly be blamed for most of the staff’s issues, season-ending injuries to two key arms dealt a significant blow to the bullpen, while sophomore LHP Aiden Sims was the only reliable starting pitcher who missed this weekend’s series due to tightness.
After Saturday’s win, when asked if the Aggies deserve a top 8 national seed in the NCAA Tournament, Earley was clear in his feelings, stating that the team’s “body of work” and consistent success at home and on the road, including six SEC series wins, is more than enough to solidify a top 8 seed, and the chance to host a Regional and Super Regional round if warranted.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: HC Michael Earley fully believes Texas A&M has earned a national seed
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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