Texas A&M Aims to Continue Momentum Against Struggling South Carolina

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In a surprising turn of events, the Texas A&M Aggies secured a much-needed series victory against No. 1 Tennessee last weekend, igniting hopes for their season as they prepare to face South Carolina at home.

After starting the SEC season with a disheartening record, the Aggies rebounded impressively by winning two of three games against the Volunteers. As they look to maintain this momentum, a series win against the Gamecocks is essential, with a sweep being the ultimate goal. With South Carolina struggling at 2-10 in SEC play, Texas A&M sees an opportunity to capitalize.

The offensive surge for Texas A&M last Saturday was marked by 26 total runs in two games, thanks in part to the return of Caden Sorrell from injury. Since his comeback, Sorrell has been on fire, hitting .407 with a total of four home runs. “Caden’s return has been a huge lift for our lineup,” said Aggies coach Michael Early.

As the series with South Carolina begins, the expected starters for Texas A&M include lefties Ryan Prager, Justin Lamkin, and Myles Patton. The Gamecocks, on the other hand, are anticipated to start left-handers Jake McCoy and Matthew Becker. The final starter for South Carolina remains to be determined. The pitching unit has faced challenges, notably surrendering double-digit runs in recent SEC matches.

The Gamecocks, now 20-14 overall and struggling with a 2-10 SEC record, are looking to bounce back from a difficult series against Mississippi State where they lost two of three games. Coach Paul Mainieri is hoping for a turnaround this weekend as his team ventures into a vital matchup against Texas A&M. “We need to put the pieces together for a competitive weekend,” Mainieri remarked.

Ethan Petry is one player to watch for South Carolina, boasting a .361 batting average and nine home runs this season. However, the Gamecocks’ offensive output has been lacking, as evidenced by only managing double-digit runs on one occasion during their 12 SEC games.

For Texas A&M, consistency has been a struggle this season, with the team having an overall record of 17-15 and a 3-9 mark in the SEC. Despite preseason optimism – with five players receiving All-SEC honors – injuries and inconsistent performances have plagued their season thus far.

The series begins Thursday evening with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. and will air on ESPNU. Following games will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. with Friday’s and Saturday’s matches streaming on SEC Network+.