Tag: D1 Baseball

Unbeaten Texas A&M moves up 3 spots, yet still trails 2 SEC teams, in week 4 D1 Baseball rankings

The Aggies are one of two remaining undefeated teams in college baseball following a wild extra innings win on Sunday against Rhode Island.

The Texas A&M baseball team is one of two remaining undefeated teams in college baseball following a wild extra innings win on Sunday against Rhode Island, leading to elevation in D1 Baseball’s week four rankings.

The Aggies (16-0) and Florida State (14-0) are the pair of unbeaten teams left in the nation. The Seminoles are not ranked in D1 Baseball‘s latest list but Texas A&M certainly is. After another undefeated week, the Aggies have risen from No. 7 to No. 4.

However, Texas A&M is the third-best team in the SEC according to D1 Baseball. Arkansas (13-2) and LSU (14-2) each moved up one slot to No. 1 & No. 2, respectively, this past week. Oregon State (15-1) leaped three spots, just like the Aggies, from No. 6 to No. 3.

Texas A&M concludes a five-game homestand at Blue Bell Park on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Sam Houston (11-5). The Aggies then hit the road for their first SEC series of the season this weekend, a three-game set at No. 8 Florida (10-5), who dropped four spots in this week’s rankings.

First pitch Friday at Condron Family Ballpark is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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ACC-opening sweep moves Diamond Heels up a spot in D1 Baseball Rankings

Winners of its past nine games, including a weekend sweep of Pitt, the UNC baseball team climbed slightly in Monday’s D1 Baseball rankings.

Since dropping two straight games to East Carolina University, there haven’t been many college baseball teams hotter than UNC.

The Diamond Heels (14-2, 3-0 ACC) are winners of their last nine matchups: VCU (Feb. 27), Longwood (28), 3-game series against Princeton (March 1-3), at Campbell (5) and Pitt (March 8-10). North Carolina’s offense scored 10 runs minimum in four of those nine games, including a season-high 13 against Princeton on March 3, plus the pitching has recovered after a rocky start.

Five UNC players, led by Casey Cook (.397), are hitting at least .300 on the season. 10 pitchers have an earned run average of under 4.00, with two starters (Folger Boaz and Jason DeCaro) combining for a 3-0 record.

With all this being said, the Diamond Heels climbed to 15th in the latest D1 Baseball Rankings.

North Carolina is fresh off a weekend sweep of Pitt (8-4, 0-3), which – despite not making the NCAA Tournament since 1995, shows a lot of early promise.

In Game One on Friday, March 8 – a 2-1 victory – Georgia transfer Parks Harber mashed his first UNC home run. Alberto Osuna drove in Kaleb Cost for the game-winning run, while the Diamond Heels’ bullpen pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Boaz.

Cook and DeCaro stole the show in Saturday’s 7-4 win, with Cook driving in five runs and DeCaro striking out a career-high six batters in 6 1/3 innings. Donofrio played hero on Sunday, delivering a walk-off single down the right field line in a 6-5 close close call.

Next up for North Carolina is a 6 p.m. Tuesday clash against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights (10-4) dropped their past two games in a weekend series at High Point University.

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Diamond Heels sit tight in latest D1 Baseball Rankings

The latest D1 college baseball rankings came out earlier Monday, with the UNC baseball team still finding itself on the list.

With five consecutive wins, the UNC baseball team is playing much better since dropping two of three to East Carolina in February.

North Carolina started its current winning streak with an 8-2 domination of VCU on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The Diamond Heels made quick work of Longwood the next day, then continued their hot streak by sweeping Princeton over the weekend.

While offense has easily highlighted UNC’s recent run, it’s the pitching which has improved significantly. North Carolina allowed opponents to score five runs in five of its first seven games, but limited Princeton to just 10 total runs this past weekend.

In the latest D1 Baseball Rankings, despite dominating as of late, the Diamond Heels stayed put at 16th.

Just ahead of UNC is 11-1 Alabama, who beat Indiana and Arizona in the Frisco Classic over the weekend, while Texas Tech sits at 17th.

North Carolina pitcher Folger Boaz, the younger brother of former Tar Heels quarterback Jefferson Boaz, is making a strong early case for staff ace. He’s won both his starts, struck out a team-leading 15 batters and carries a stellar 2.16 earned run average.

UNC hitters are also seeing the ball extremely well, with seven starters hitting at least .300. Reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year Vance Honeycutt leads the Diamond Heels with six home runs, while Casey Cook and Alex Madera are both hitting .400.

North Carolina will travel to Campbell on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. first pitch, then host a historically-struggling Pitt squad that’s off to an 8-win start this coming weekend.

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The Texas A&M outfield will be well patrolled with two top ten players

LaViolette and Mongomery highlight D1baseballs’ top 100 outfielders list

When the Aggies take the diamond next week, they will have two consensus All-Americans leading the way. Sophomore standout Jace LaViolette and the No. 1 ranked transfer Braden Montgomery has received glowing recognition all preseason long and for good reason.

D1Baseball has dropped their top 100 list (subscription needed) and the duo of LaViolette and Mongomery are among the best in the nation. Montgomery came in at No. 6 while earning a top-five spot coming in at No. 3. Texas A&M is full of talent from top to bottom and others agree.

“… @Vol_Baseball and A&M will have the best top-to-bottom offenses in our league. It will be one of those two who will have the best offenses and could win a national title this year.”

-Anonymous coaches per D1Baseball

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Dq49lOs03/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

We are quickly approaching opening day and the Aggies are ready to welcome McNeese State to Olsen Field on February 16th.

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Texas A&M baseball program ranked No. 8 in D1Baseball’s preseason top 25

After finishing the 2023 season with a 38-27 overall record, the Aggies were ranked No. 8 in the 2024 D1Baseball preseason top 25 this week.

The Texas A&M baseball program has cracked the top 10 of another preseason poll.

After finishing the 2023 season with a 38-27 overall record, the Aggies were ranked No. 8 in the 2024 D1Baseball preseason top 25, which was released on Tuesday morning.

Texas A&M is one of eight SEC schools in the D1 rankings. Conference foes that the Aggies are slotted behind include Florida (#2), Arkansas (#3), reigning national champion LSU (#4) and Vanderbilt (#6).

On Jan. 7, Perfect Game ranked Texas A&M as the No. 7 team in the country in its preseason poll.

The Aggies’ freshman class is fourth-best in the nation according to D1Baseball, only trailing No. 1 Arkansas, among the nine SEC rivals ranked. Four freshmen to watch this season include Caden Sorrell, Gavin Grahovac, Weston Moss and Kaiden Wilson.

Texas A&M right-handed pitcher and outfielder, Braden Montgomery, was slotted as the No. 4 junior in the country by Perfect Game. He is projected to be the fifth pick in July’s 2024 MLB Draft according to Perfect Game.

Two Aggies cracked Perfect Game’s top 50 seniors list. Ryan Targac is No. 12 and Ted Burton is No. 16.

Texas A&M begins the 2024 campaign with a three-game series at Blue Bell Park against McNeese State University on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Aggie baseball isn’t slowing down after adding another top transfer to the team

Texas A&M gets an early transfer commit from Penn infielder Wyatt Henseler, who will join the team as a grad transfer next season

Jim Schlossnagle and his staff have taken no days off regarding player acquisition. The Aggies already have several players on D1 Baseball’s 2024 Top 130 impact transfers, and they received a commitment from another top player in the 2025 transfer portal on Friday.

Former Penn infielder Wyatt Henseler announced via social media that he was headed to Bryan/College Station next year to join the Aggies following his senior season.

The 6’1″, 210-pound third baseman will bring a wealth of experience and talent to next year’s team. Through his first three seasons with Penn, he has a hitting average of .352 with 32 home runs and 133 RBI. Adding more power to the lineup, the Aggies’ future at the plate is filled with high-scoring potential.

We hope Henseler has a strong senior season at Penn before joining the Aggies for the 2025 campaign.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Mac Horvath cracks the top 25 of D1Baseball Midseason rankings

After a historic season, Mac Horvath cracks the top 25 of D1Baseball Midseason Top 150 College Prospect rankings.

After a historic season, North Carolina Tar Heel [autotag]Mac Horvath[/autotag] has jumped up 38 spots in the latest D1Baseball’s Midseason Top 150 College Prospect rankings.

Horvath comes in on the list ranked 25th after a season of writing his name in UNC history. Horvath penciled his name in after being the first ACC player to have 20 home runs, 20 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in a single season in 24 years. He joined Florida State’s Marshall McDougall, who accomplished similar stats in 1999.

This past season was fruitful for Horvath. He also had a historic four-game stretch where he became the first Tar Heel in UNC history with 19 RBIs in four games. He is also one of two Tar Heels in UNC history with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season.

Horvath growth this season was displayed, and now he is getting clear recognition for it. He was named first-team All-Atlantic and is currently mocked as a first-round pick.

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Where Texas baseball goes from here after going winless in Arlington

Texas baseball will look to flush the Big 12 Tournament from memory.

The Texas baseball team had a forgettable Wednesday and Thursday in Arlington.

The Big 12 Tournament saw the team lose to the worst team in the bracket, Kansas, before dropping an elimination game to bubble team, Kansas State. Just a day earlier, K-State got shellacked 16-3 by the TCU Horned Frogs.

Put simply, the Longhorns need to flush this week from memory and recover for the stretch run. In a sense, saving its energy rather than playing for a Big 12 title could be a blessing in disguise. Even so, Texas faithful would have liked to see the team secure a regional host designation. Now, that’s likely out of reach.

Texas can move forward and forget the last two games, and frankly it should. The team’s abysmal performance in being swept by Oklahoma is in the rear view mirror after sweeping West Virginia for a Big 12 regular season title. Past failures have little bearing moving forward.

Baseball can be a random game in which the better team often loses. However, you can make your own luck by limiting errors and properly managing games. Texas needs its head coach David Pierce to put the team in a better position to win than he did in the conference tournament. His players need to execute when called upon to perform.

The team’s unknown tournament destination should be the least of its worries. The Longhorns will look to get back to the good baseball they played against West Virginia that secured a regular season conference title.

WATCH: Garret Guillemette launches home run against Oklahoma State

Guillemette is emerging as a home run threat for Texas.

Texas catcher Garret Guillemette is making an impact for the his ball club this season. He’s doing so with a powerful swing. Continue reading “WATCH: Garret Guillemette launches home run against Oklahoma State”

Texas Baseball: Giving due credit to head coach David Pierce

David Pierce joins Rodney Terry in exceeding expectations this season.

Texas baseball continued its run of excellence on Friday. The No. 21 Texas Longhorns (20-7) defeated the No. 17 Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-7) in an impressive 5-3 victory. Texas might not be ranked No. 21 for long.

An early offensive explosion saw the Longhorns build a 5-1 lead with powerful extra base hits. It’s the style of play that makes head coach David Pierce’s team so fun to watch.

We were critical of the ball club and its coach earlier in the season. Now they are due for praise. The team has won 16 in a row. The last five have come against Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, all of which have high postseason aspirations.

This team replaced first baseman Ivan Melendez and six other bats in its lineup. Starting pitcher Lucas Gordon was elevated to Pete Hansen’s role as staff ace. Pitchers who were unable to perform in big game roles last season have made this team a winner and more reliable than last season’s top heavy squad.

We challenged the team to play better baseball. Over the last 16 games, David Pierce is more than passing every test.

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