It’s a new weekend. Even though the Aggies’ five-series winning streak was snapped last weekend, and even though their chances of a regular season SEC Championship are essentially gone, a top 4 seed in the SEC Tournament is still very much at play. As it sits right now, the Ags would be the No. 6 seed if the season ended today. The Aggies would have to play in the single elimination round, taking on the No. 11 seed, which would mean a rematch with Missouri. That said, a top 4 seed is still very possible. They’ll need some help around the league, but with Arkansas (who is half a game ahead of the Ags in the standings) still on the schedule, they have plenty to play for.

This weekend, the Aggies are travelling over to Oxford, MS to take on the Rebellious Black Bear Admirals. The Rebs started the year off very strong, taking a 7-1 record into the buzzsaw that was the Houston College Classic for the SEC, dropping all three contests against Baylor, TCU, and Tech. Since then, Ole Miss is six games over .500 overall, at 22-16, with a conference record of 11-13, but you can’t count them out of any series. After all, they do have four series victories, including Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Their struggles this season have seemingly stemmed from a struggling offense. They rank last in the SEC in hits and batting average, 11th in slugging, second-to-last in OBP, total bases, and RBIs, and 12th in runs scored. They’ve been able to keep themselves afloat with their pitching staff, that boasts the second-best ERA in the league behind only A&M. Don’t be surprised by some low-scoring affairs this weekend.

Probable Starters

• Friday: Brigham Hill (7-3, 2.62 ERA) vs. James McArthur (3-4, 3.99 ERA)
• Saturday: Corbin Martin (5-3, 3.13 ERA) vs. Ryan Rolison (6-2, 2.19 ERA)
• Sunday: Stephen Kolek (3-2, 3.31 ERA) vs. David Parkinson (5-3, 3.66 ERA)

What to Watch For

Even more good starting pitching, please

Going into last weekend, Hill, Martin, and Kolek had given up a combined four runs in the previous two series, racking up 40 strikeouts along the way. After taking on one of the best offenses in the league in Mississippi State, those three have now allowed a combined 12 runs (eight earned) in their last three rounds through the rotation, posting a WHIP of 0.98 and striking out 60. We’ve learned over the course of this season that the pitching staff is the force that drives this team. Even more good starting pitching this weekend, please.

Fifth, Sixth, Seventh inning warriors

Evidently the Aggies are very, very good at the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, as they’ve outscored their opponents by 104 runs in those frames this season. I don’t understand how or why, but this is a very good development, imo.

Quiet senior resurgence

Nick Choruby has been a constant at the top of the lineup all season long, setting the table with a batting average hovering around .300. But Joel Davis, Blake Kopetsky, and Austin Homan have quietly become key contributors to the offense. Kopetsky has his average up to .307 and tallied his first two WHAMMYs of the season in back-to-back games last weekend. Davis is second on the team in homers and walks. Homan has brought his average up from below the Mendoza Line to .257, after a 5 for 13 stretch in his last four games and three multi-hit games in his last eight.

The Braden Shewmake Show™

This is your weekly reminder that Braden Shewmake is v good at baseballing. He ranks 16th and 20th in RBIs and hits among all of Division I, respectively, and first in both categories among all Division I freshmen. To stop receiving these alerts, text STOP to 1-800-LOLI’MNOTGOINGTOSTOP Ext. THISKIDISSOGOOD.

How to Watch/Listen

• Times: Friday, 6:32 pm | Saturday, 6:00 pm | Sunday, 12:00 pm
• TV: Friday, SEC Network+ | Saturday and Sunday, SEC Network
• Radio: Dave South has the call on SportsRadio 1150 AM/The Zone 102.7 FM
• Live Audio: 12thman.com