Top of the Big 12 - Huskers vs Aggies This Weekend

by Jon Johnston on May 9, 2008 7:35 AM CDT in Nebraska Husker Baseball

The two top teams of the Big 12 meet this weekend when the #1 Texas A&M Aggies come into Lincoln this weekend to face #2 Nebraska. Given where these two teams are and how they're playing, something has to give:

- Nebraska is 26-2-1 at home, having won their last 14 of 15.
- Texas A&M is 10-2 away from home this year and has won nine straight road games for the first time since 1989. The Aggies have won 24 of their last 26.
- The Aggies have swept five consecutive conference series (Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri) for the first time in school history.
- Texas A&M is leading nearly every offensive stat in the Big 12. Nebraska... isnÕt even close. (see below)
- NebraskaÕs pitching is better than Texas A&MÕs, but not by much (below).
- Both teams have good pitchers, and good depth.

All of this stacks up to be one heckuva series.

The series will be a good indication of where the Huskers stack up with regards to post-season play. There are a number of different scenarios that will come out of this weekend:

- If we somehow sweep Texas A&M, we control our destiny. We can win the Big 12 by winning the series against Mizzou and we'll probably get a national seed (host a Super Regional).

- If we win the series, we'd need to sweep Missouri and have Texas win their series against A&M to win the Big 12. The possibility of a national seed is there dependent upon how we do in the Big 12 tourney.

- If we lose the series, we cannot win the Big 12, and most likely will not get a national seed. Oklahoma State has a chance to catch us in the Big 12 race.

- If we get swept, we won't have a shot at winning the Big 12. We'll still host a regional, but probably have lost a chance at a national seed.

Projected Starting Pitchers

	Nebraska	Texas A&M
Friday	RH Johnny Dorn (5-1, 2.69 ERA)	LH Brooks Raley (6-0, 3.70 ERA)
Saturday - G1	RH Thad Weber (8-2, 4.28 ERA)	RH Barret Loux (4-1, 4.28 ERA)
Saturday - G2	RH Aaron Pribanic (3-3, 4.16 ERA)	RH Clayton Ehlert (6-2, 2.82ERA)

Offensive Stats
Batting Average		Slugging %		On Base %
1. Texas A&M	0.328	1. Texas A&M	0.535	1. Texas A&M	0.429
7. Nebraska	0.271	8. Nebraska	0.392	6. Nebraska	0.363

Runs Scored		Hits		RBI's
1. Texas A&M	185	1. Texas A&M	247	1. Texas A&M	174
6. Nebraska	126	8. Nebraska	187	6. Nebraska	119

Homers		Total Bases		Total Plate App
1. Texas A&M	33	1. Texas A&M	402	2. Texas A&M	914
8. Nebraska	14	8. Nebraska	270	10. Nebraska	824

At Bats		Walks		Hit By Pitch
3. (tie) Texas A&M	752	2. Texas A&M	102	1. Texs A&M	39
10. Nebraska	689	8. Nebraska	75	2. Nebraska	30

Stolen Bases
2. Nebraska	23
6. Texas A&M	18

Pitching Stats
Team ERA		Opp Batting Avg		Strike Out
2. Nebraska	4.21	2. Nebraska	0.266	1. Nebraska	184
3. Texas A&M	4.29	4. Texas A&M	0.274	4. Texas A&M	161

Walks Allowed		Homers Allowed		Wild Pitches
2. Texas A&M	65	1. Nebraska	11	1. (tie) Nebraska	14
4. Nebraska	75	2. Texas A&M	14	7. Texas A&M	12

Hit Batters
4. Texas A&M	25
10. Nebraska	16

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Comments

This might be a Two Game Series

Tomorrow's weather forecast does not look good at all for baseball, with rain expected all day. I don't think they are playing a doubleheader on Saturday... even if the weather somehow breaks. (The Omaha World-Herald shows game 3 at 1:05 on Sunday.)

Hopefully, A&M's travel plans back to Texas are flexible to allow a doubleheader on Sunday... otherwise, that game 3 matchup might not happen.

by Husker Mike on May 9, 2008 9:00 AM CDT reply actions

Big 12

conference rules, I believe, state that a Sunday game can start no later than four or five pm.

The Aggies haven't finished finals week, have they? Maybe there's an exception for that. Nebraska's was last week.... so.... maybe?

Go Big Red!

by Jon Johnston on May 9, 2008 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions

How about Sunday Morning?

Mothers might not be happy...but they start tournament games at 10 am....

Unfortunately, tomorrow's game is on NET-HD and CBS College Sports, so any rain might kill any TV coverage.

by Husker Mike on May 9, 2008 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Sunday games

Lawrence is facing the same weather pattern for the big Missouri-Kansas series. I do not know when the rain is supposed to hit here on Saturday but the school has moved starting times up in the past to avoid late arriving rain.

It the teams cannot play on Saturday they could conceivably play a double header Sunday. The Big-12 get-away rule is that all games must stop by 6PM Sunday I think? Or that no inning can start after 5PM? I’m not sure but a double header could be played as long as the first game started around 9 or 10AM. And what is wrong with that? Nothing. Get up, grab your coffee and head on down to the park. Heaven on earth.

by James Quinn on May 9, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions