Apologies for the shortness of this preview as a series of this magnitude certainly deserved more from us. The problem, you see, is that neither of us realized that this was a Thursday-Saturday series. Regardless, here's what's at stake:
The Agroids lead Texas by a game in the Big XII standings. If Texas sweeps it wins the Big XII outright. If Texas takes two of three it ties the Ags for the Big XII crown but gets the #1 seed in the Big XII tourney and bragging rights for the tenth straight year. If A&M wins two of three or sweeps it takes the Big XII outright.
The Ags are the third best team in the conference on offense and second to Texas in pitching. Thursday starter John Stilson hasn't quite been Jungmannesque but he's been very solid all year. Friday starter Michael Wacha hasn't been untouchable but has been very good for much of the year. RF Tyler Naquin leads the conference in batting average and is the only player ahead of Erich Weiss in that category.
Game one starts at 6:30 tonight in College Station. Saturday and Sunday will be in Austin. Anyhow, starting pitchers after the jump.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPSThursday, May 19, 2011 - 6:30 p.m. Central
Texas: RHP Taylor Jungmann (11-0, 0.86 ERA)
Texas A&M: RHP John Stilson (5-1, 1.59 ERA)
Friday, May 20, 2011 - 6 p.m. Central
Texas: RHP Cole Green (6-3, 2.87 ERA)
Texas A&M: RHP Michael Wacha (6-3, 2.33 ERA)
Saturday, May 21, 2011 - 6 p.m. Central
Texas: TBA
Texas A&M: RHP Ross Stripling (11-2, 2.09 ERA)