Tag: 2024 NCAA College Baseball Tournament

Aggies LHP Ryan Prager is ‘not trying to reinvent the wheel’ vs. Oregon in Super Regionals

“It comes back to not trying to reinvent the wheel just because it’s this time of year and people say this is a more meaningful weekend.”

Texas A&M sophomore left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager is scheduled to start the first game of the Super Regionals against Oregon and spoke prior to the best of three series at Blue Bell Park.

“I think it’s unbelievable. We’ve seen not only what they did last week but what they’ve done all year and what they tend to do year in and year out. I think it just shows how much this place cares. It obviously means a lot to us but there are other people that care. It means something to our fans and the university. We’re super grateful to have them at our back and know that they have an impact in what goes on,” Prager said. “I think a lot of it comes back to being us. We’ve faced teams that can do it all, especially from a power standpoint. Being in this league, there’s a lot of teams that will go and try to out-slug you, try to just take their chances hitting homers.

“We’ve experienced teams that do that and nothing changes. We still have to go execute pitches and do our thing. If we do that, the numbers say that it’ll be in our favor. I think a lot of it comes back to not trying to reinvent the wheel just because it’s this time of year and people say that this is a more meaningful weekend.

“We just stay true to who we are and what we’ve done all year.”

Game 1 begins Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. If necessary, a winner take all third game would be Monday.

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‘Another opportunity,’ Texas A&M junior Braden Montgomery seeks revenge vs. Oregon

“I’ve been playing them for a couple of years. I’ve never had a chance to win a lot against them so it’s cool to get another opportunity.”

Texas A&M junior outfielder Braden Montgomery was the MVP of the Bryan-College Station Regional last weekend and he’ll attempt to keep that momentum rolling against a familiar team that he faced a lot at Stanford.

“It’s cool to play a familiar team, I’ve been playing them for a couple of years. I’ve never had a chance to win a lot against them so it’s cool to get another opportunity to play against them. Just seeing some more familiar, west coast baseball,” Montgomery recalled. “I feel like the biggest difference that I see is the depth in the teams that we’ve played against. I feel like once we would’ve gotten to some of the pitching staffs or even some of the teams last year in the Pac-12, there’s just a bigger difference from the top to the bottom.

“Whereas, they like to say, it’s a gauntlet in the SEC. Every team can truly have a chance to beat any other team. Not to say it’s not like that in the Pac-12, there’s just different layers to it.”

The NCAA Super Regionals versus Oregon begin Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. If necessary, a winner take all third game would be Monday at Blue Bell Park.

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Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle previews Oregon matchup in NCAA Super Regionals

“It’s closer to a regular weekend but there is no saving a pitcher for Tuesday. You’re trying to get to 2 wins as fast as you can,” he said.

For the second time in three years, coach Jim Schlossnagle has led the Texas A&M baseball team to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament.

“Welcome everybody to the College Station Super Regional. Welcome coach Was and his Oregon Ducks, excited to get a chance to play. I think this is the first time that I’ve coached against Oregon and I’m sure we’ll have a great weekend of crowds. We’re ready to play, it’s been a long time to sit around waiting,” Schlossnagle explained Friday. “It’s closer to a regular weekend but there is no saving a pitcher for Tuesday. You’re trying to get to two wins as fast as you can.

“If you have a chance to win a game, then you’ve gotta go pretty much all out, I guess within reason, to do that. Certainly if you were to lose the first one, then all hands on deck to try and stay alive. It’s closer to a regular season feel.

“Similar but different, you could say.”

The best of three series at Blue Bell Park begins Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN2. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. If necessary, a winner take all third game would be Monday.

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The Oregon baseball team is ready to go ‘toe to toe with Texas A&M’ at Super Regionals

“We’re excited to be able to get here, prepare the last couple of days and get a chance to come out here and go toe to toe with Texas A&M.”

Before the No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team hosts Oregon this weekend at Blue Bell Park, Ducks coach Mark Wasikowski shared his expectations.

“Just excited to be in College Station. I think we’re bringing a really good ball club to town,” Wasikowski said Friday. “I know that coach Schlossnagle’s ball club is an outstanding ball club. They obviously have been well represented in the polls throughout the course of the year.

“We’re excited to be able to get here, prepare the last couple of days and get a chance to come out here tomorrow and go toe to toe with Texas A&M. We know how good they are, we know how good their program has been and currently is. Credit to so many people behind the scenes for that. For us, we’re excited to go toe to toe with this ball club that they have.

“Just really excited about the work so far that our guys have put out there to be able to put us in this position to be in a Super Regional again for the second straight year.”

The NCAA Super Regionals at Olsen Field begin Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN2. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. If necessary, a winner take all third game would be Monday.

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4 Aggies who will attempt to stay hot vs. Oregon in NCAA Super Regionals

Aggies fans have grown to expect production from players like Montgomery, Prager, LaViolette and Grahovac as the Super Regionals approach.

As the NCAA Super Regionals approach this weekend, fans of the Texas A&M baseball team have grown to expect big production from players like junior outfielder Braden Montgomery, sophomores, left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager & OF Jace LaViolette, and freshman third baseman Gavin Grahovac.

Montgomery was named MVP of the Bryan-College Station Regional. The No. 3 Aggies (47-13) host Oregon (40-18) this weekend at Blue Bell Park in a best of three series.

If Texas A&M wants to beat the Ducks, it will need contributions from the four players that made the regional All-Tournament team: seniors, first baseman Ted Burton & LHP Evan Aschenbeck, sophomore LHP Shane Sdao and freshman OF Caden Sorrell.

The NCAA Super Regionals at Olsen Field begin Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN2. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. If necessary, a winner take all third game would be Monday.

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Texas A&M’s pitching rotation vs. Oregon in the Super Regional have been announced

Texas A&M’s starting pitchers vs. Oregon have been announced ahead of the weekend’s Super Regional

Texas A&M (47-13) will host the Oregon Ducks (40-18) in the NCAA Tournament Super Regional Round this weekend. After going undefeated in the Regional Round last weekend, the Aggies will continue their homestay at Blue Bell Park.

In a thrilling display of power at the plate on Sunday, A&M’s offense came alive, delivering a total of 13 hits and five home runs. The dingers were courtesy of Caden Sorrell, Braden Montgomery, Hayden Schott, Ali Camarillo, and SEC Freshman of the Year Gavin Grahovac, who collectively led the team to a 9-4 victory over Louisiana.

Set to face an Oregon team that also went defeated in the Santa Barbara Regional, including a 3-0 victory over the site hosts on Sunday night, the Ducks bring an impressive pitching rotation. At the same time, the Aggies hold the statistical advantage in nearly every category.

However, games are won on the mound, as Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle announced the team’s starting pitchers for the first two games on Saturday and Sunday:

  • Game 1: Ryan Prager (8-1, 113 Ks, 2.53 ERA)
  • Game 2: Shane Sdao (5-1, 55 Ks, 2.61 ERA)
  • Game 3 (if necessary): TBA

Texas A&M vs. Oregon will begin on Saturday, June 8 at 1:00 p.m. CT. and air on ESPN2.

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Texas A&M junior outfielder Braden Montgomery reflects on advancing to Super Regionals

“We did a great job. I think we’ll be able to carry that into next weekend and that will ultimately decide how far we are able to take it.”

Junior outfielder Braden Montgomery belted a 3-run home run to right field in the top of the fourth inning on Sunday night to propel the No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team past No. 23 Louisiana during the Bryan-College Station Regional at Blue Bell Park.

“It’s super cool. I was glad to just see like what coach was saying, our guys bounced back from playing a little bit out of who we are as hitters last night,” Montgomery recalled postgame. “It was good to see us bounce back and get back to executing the plan that we do, swinging at strikes and taking balls. I thought we did a great job, it was awesome. I think we’ll be able to carry that into next weekend and that will ultimately decide how far we are able to take it.”

The NCAA Super Regionals at Olsen Field versus Oregon begin at 1 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2.

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Sophomore lefty Shane Sdao discusses No. 3 Texas A&M’s defense vs. No. 23 Louisiana

“The defense makes it really easy to pitch, especially when I throw a lot of strikes. I know that I’m not going to strike everybody out.”

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Shane Sdao led the No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team to a 9-4 win against No. 23 Louisiana on Sunday night at Blue Bell Park to advance from the Bryan-College Station Regional.

Sdao (5-1) started on the mound and earned the victory. He tossed 5.1 innings and allowed 6 hits and 1 run with 6 strikeouts on 79 pitches.

“The defense makes it really easy to pitch, especially when I throw a lot of strikes. I know that I’m obviously not going to strike everybody out. So whenever those balls do get put in play, I have no worry because I know my defense is great,” Sdao explained. “It means a lot, especially whenever I can give some innings to the team, have some rest in the bullpen and not have to use everybody. Every time I go out there, I try to give as much as I can.”

The NCAA Super Regionals versus Oregon begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Olsen Field on ESPN2.

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Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle recaps win vs. No. 23 Louisiana to reach Super Regionals

“We had a hitters meeting before BP and I thought, despite some outside factors that were really tough, our guys executed the plan awesome.”

For the second time in three years, coach Jim Schlossnagle has led the Texas A&M baseball team to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament.

“Congratulations to Louisiana on an awesome season and a great tournament. Coach Deggs has a great program and just honored to be on the same field with those guys and how hard they play,” Schlossnagle said. “I’m really proud of our team, hitters and pitching. I think until the ninth inning we had given up three runs in however many innings that we had played up until that point (28). The ninth inning got a little ugly but I thought we pitched well. We had a hitters meeting before BP today and I thought, despite some outside factors that were really tough, our guys executed the plan awesome. I’m really, really proud of our hitters tonight. I’m excited to win the regional and move on.”

The best of three series versus Oregon begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at Blue Bell Park on ESPN2.

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’50 people in the stands,’ Evan Aschenbeck gushes about 12th Man after Longhorns win

“Coming from Blinn where I had 50 people in the stands to having who knows how many we had. It was the best atmosphere and best fan base.”

Going from a junior college to an SEC university like Texas A&M is a massive difference as senior left-handed pitcher Evan Aschenbeck learned on Saturday night during a 4-2 win in extra frames against Texas during the Bryan-College Station Regional.

“It was probably the best atmosphere that I’ve ever been in pitching wise. I mean, coming from Blinn where I had 50 people in the stands to having who knows how many we had. It was the best atmosphere and the best fan base that I’ve ever been a part of,” Aschenbeck said. “I know that they’re going to pack it again (Sunday) night with whoever who we play. I know it’s just a game at the end of the day, we just try to go out there, execute pitches and play to the standard and not the scoreboard. Just trying to be the best version of ourselves.

“I just try to be myself, it doesn’t matter what the outing is going to be like because you don’t really know what the next pitch holds. So you have to worry about where your feet are and where your mind is at that point, going pitch by pitch.”

Aschenbeck (6-1) earned the win in relief of sophomore LHP Ryan Prager. He pitched 4.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit, recording 1 walk with 1 K on 62 pitches.

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