The Aggies are desperately trying to find momentum against the best team in the country
The good news from last week against Kentucky?
The Aggies finally notched their first SEC win of 2025.
The bad news?
Texas A&M sits at 14-14 overall with a 1-8 record in conference play after losing the series to the Wildcats.
The road only gets more difficult for Texas A&M moving forward as the Aggies head to Knoxville to take on the reigning national champs and current #1 Tennessee Volunteers. This squad is desperately hanging on to a chance to play in the postseason currently sitting at 15th of 16 in the conference.
Hope is waning for even a regional berth.
Let’s look at what the Aggies face this weekend on Rocky Top.
Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
If there was one bright spot from Texas A&M’s it was the return of Caden Sorrell from injury. Sorrell notched a home run during the series with Kentucky and it felt like there was more output from the bats than we’ve seen this season. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to carry the weekend.
In Tennessee, the Aggies face a pitching staff that has yet to surrender double-digit runs in SEC play. While Sunday’s starter for the Vols is TBD, Tennessee’s Friday and Saturday starters have both looked good to this point of the season. The Aggies will face left-hander Liam Doyle on Friday and right-hander Marcus Phillips on Saturday. Doyle’s 73 strikeouts on the season are incredibly impressive and highlight the challenge the Aggie lineup will face this weekend.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Things aren’t much easier for a struggling Aggie pitching staff. The lefty trio of Prager, Lamkin, and Patton will have their work cut out for them against a Tennessee lineup that produces. The Vols are hitting above .300 on the season and Gaven Kilen is hitting .425 on the year with 10 home runs.
Of course, the pitching isn’t the only issue for the Aggies. The defensive play hasn’t been great at this point of the season either.
In short, the Aggies need some real magic in Knoxville this weekend to secure some semblance of momentum and keep the postseason dream alive. Maybe Texas A&M will find something in themselves on the road against the top-ranked team in the country.
Probable Starters
- Friday: LHP Ryan Prager (2-1, 3.35 ERA, 40.1 IP, 38 K, 13 BB) vs. LHP Liam Doyle (4-1, 2.95 ERA, 36.2 IP, 73 K, 12 BB)
- Saturday: LHP Justin Lamkin (1-3, 3.76 ERA, 40.2 IP, 49 K, 10 BB) vs. RHP Marcus Phillips (2-0, 2.02 ERA, 35.2 IP, 42 K, 9 BB)
- Sunday: LHP Myles Patton (2-3, 3.82 ERA, 37.2 IP, 40 K, 7 BB) vs. TBD
How to Watch
- 6:00 p.m. Friday on ESPNU
- 5:00 p.m. Saturday on SECN+
- 2:00 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2
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