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Texas A&M closed the regular season on a high note, grinding through injuries and pitching shortages to secure a crucial SEC series win over Mississippi State, finishing the week 2–1 and stabilizing their postseason outlook.
The weekend didn’t start smoothly. In Game 1, the Aggies were blitzed in an 18–11 loss that forced them to burn through a large portion of the bullpen. With Mississippi State also fighting for a national seed, the series had the feel of a postseason preview and after Friday’s setback, A&M looked vulnerable.
But Michael Earley’s squad responded with the kind of resilience that has defined their season. Powered by 16 hits and three home runs, the Aggies outslugged the Bulldogs in an 11–9 shootout in Game 2, setting up a winner‑take‑all finale on Sunday.
Game 3 was the tightest contest of the series, a back‑and‑forth battle where every lead felt temporary. Each time A&M jumped ahead, Mississippi State answered in the very next inning. The breakthrough came late, when Bear Harrison delivered a clutch two‑RBI single to give the Aggies a 7–6 advantage. The defense held firm in the top of the seventh, sealing the series and giving A&M a much‑needed momentum boost heading into the postseason.
Despite the win, questions remain. Injuries have thinned the pitching staff, and inconsistency on the mound continues to create pressure on the offense. Still, the Aggies’ depth at the plate and their ability to respond in high‑leverage moments keeps them firmly in the mix as a dangerous postseason threat. If they can get healthier and stabilize the rotation, this team has the firepower to make a run.
Below is the updated USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Top 25.
No. 24 Boston College; No. 25 Jacksonville State;
Jacksonville State 43; Wake Forest 22; Boston College 18; UC Santa Barbara 10; Oklahoma 10; Mercer 6; California Baptist 5; East Carolina 3; Miami (FL) 2; Kent State 2; UTSA 1; UCF 1; Campbell 1;
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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M moves up to No. 9 in the USA TODAY poll after series win
Continue reading...
The weekend didn’t start smoothly. In Game 1, the Aggies were blitzed in an 18–11 loss that forced them to burn through a large portion of the bullpen. With Mississippi State also fighting for a national seed, the series had the feel of a postseason preview and after Friday’s setback, A&M looked vulnerable.
But Michael Earley’s squad responded with the kind of resilience that has defined their season. Powered by 16 hits and three home runs, the Aggies outslugged the Bulldogs in an 11–9 shootout in Game 2, setting up a winner‑take‑all finale on Sunday.
Game 3 was the tightest contest of the series, a back‑and‑forth battle where every lead felt temporary. Each time A&M jumped ahead, Mississippi State answered in the very next inning. The breakthrough came late, when Bear Harrison delivered a clutch two‑RBI single to give the Aggies a 7–6 advantage. The defense held firm in the top of the seventh, sealing the series and giving A&M a much‑needed momentum boost heading into the postseason.
Despite the win, questions remain. Injuries have thinned the pitching staff, and inconsistency on the mound continues to create pressure on the offense. Still, the Aggies’ depth at the plate and their ability to respond in high‑leverage moments keeps them firmly in the mix as a dangerous postseason threat. If they can get healthier and stabilize the rotation, this team has the firepower to make a run.
Below is the updated USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Top 25.
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA Bruins | 48-6 | 748 | 28 | 1 | - | 1/2 |
| 2 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 43-10 | 703 | 0 | 2 | - | 2/14 |
| 3 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 45-9 | 699 | 1 | 3 | - | 2/5 |
| 4 | Georgia Bulldogs | 43-12 | 669 | 1 | 4 | - | 4/13 |
| 5 | Texas Longhorns | 40-12 | 627 | 0 | 5 | - | 2/5 |
| 6 | Auburn Tigers | 36-18 | 554 | 0 | 6 | - | 4/12 |
| 7 | Oregon State Beavers | 43-12 | 545 | 0 | 7 | - | 6/18 |
| 8 | Florida State Seminoles | 38-16 | 506 | 0 | 8 | - | 6/17 |
| 9 | Texas A&M Aggies | 39-13 | 498 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 7/NR |
| 10 | Southern Miss Golden Eagles | 40-14 | 471 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 7/20 |
| 11 | West Virginia Mountaineers | 37-13 | 452 | 0 | 11 | - | 11/NR |
| 12 | Oregon Ducks | 38-15 | 371 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 10/NR |
| 13 | Arkansas Razorbacks | 36-19 | 365 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 5/24 |
| 14 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | 39-16 | 340 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 3/16 |
| 15 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 37-18 | 337 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 9/NR |
| 16 | Kansas Jayhawks | 39-16 | 308 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 9/NR |
| 17 | Florida Gators | 37-18 | 303 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 8/25 |
| 18 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | 41-14 | 239 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 16/NR |
| 19 | USC Trojans | 42-14 | 235 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 8/NR |
| 20 | Ole Miss Rebels | 36-20 | 180 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 18/NR |
| 21 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | 36-19 | 148 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 21/NR |
| 22 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 36-18 | 94 | 0 | 22 | - | 17/NR |
| 23 | Cincinnati Bearcats | 37-19 | 88 | 0 | NR | 4 | 23/NR |
| 24 | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 36-19 | 84 | 0 | 18 | 6 | 7/25 |
| 25 | Tennessee Volunteers | 37-19 | 62 | 0 | NR | 4 | 15/NR |
Schools Dropped Out
No. 24 Boston College; No. 25 Jacksonville State;
Others Receiving Votes
Jacksonville State 43; Wake Forest 22; Boston College 18; UC Santa Barbara 10; Oklahoma 10; Mercer 6; California Baptist 5; East Carolina 3; Miami (FL) 2; Kent State 2; UTSA 1; UCF 1; Campbell 1;
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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M moves up to No. 9 in the USA TODAY poll after series win
Continue reading...
