On the eve of the College Station Regional, Texas A&M is finally starting to look whole again, but not without a few lingering questions about how the lineup and pitching rotation will shake out. After a month defined by injuries and constant shuffling, head coach Michael Earley offered clarity on Thursday, confirming both his Game 1 starter and the status of several key position players.
The biggest decision entering the weekend centered on the pitching plan, and Earley removed all doubt by announcing that former Friday‑night starter Shane Sdao will get the ball to open the regional. Sdao’s return to the top of the rotation gives the Aggies a stabilizing presence as they look to regain the form that once had them in the conversation as the SEC’s best team.
The other major storyline involved the availability of freshman standout Nico Partida, whose early‑May injury forced a domino effect across the infield. With Chris Hacopian also battling through his own issues, A&M cycled through multiple defensive combinations over the final weeks of the regular season in an effort to minimize errors and maintain offensive continuity.
This weekend, the Aggies finally get their preferred alignment back.
Earley confirmed that Partida is not only active, but he’s also returning to his starting role at third base, sliding Gavin Grahovac back to first. Hacopian will serve as the designated hitter, while Ben Royo gets the nod at second base. It’s the cleanest, most complete version of the lineup A&M has fielded in weeks.
With their core pieces back in place, the Aggies enter the regional with renewed confidence and a chance to rediscover the elite level of play that defined their midseason surge.
Earley summed up the plan succinctly during the regional preview:
“Nico’s going to play he’s going to play third. Gavin will be at first. So, all the other guys will be the same. Chris will DH, it’s no secret he’s been playing through some stuff and um yeah, so Royo will be at second and from there it’ll all be all the same.”
Texas A&M will face Lamar on Friday at 3:00 p.m. which will air on the SEC Network.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Is Texas A&M finally healthy? Earley confirms regional lineup
Reporting by Jarrett Johnson, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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