LAWRENCE, Kan.--Texas A&M plays its first Big 12 games away from home this week when the Aggies (17-7, 4-2) head to Lawrence to face the Kansas Jayhawks (16-9, 2-1) ... the series, which was moved up a day due to Easter, will open on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. ... games are also scheduled on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.) ... A&M is looking to snap a two-game losing skid after falling at Texas State, 6-5, in 11 innings Tuesday night ... KU is 16-9 entering a Wednesday evening game against Missouri State ... the Jayhawks opened Big 12 play with a series win at Baylor last week, defeating the Bears in 14 innings in the rubber game on Sunday ... Kansas also has a series win at No. 1-ranked LSU under its belt this spring ... the Jayhawks and Aggies were picked to finish second and third, respectively, in the Big 12’s preseason poll ... Thursday’s opener will mark the first game Texas A&M has played this season outside the state of Texas.

GAMES 25-27
#22 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (17-6, 4-2) at KANSAS JAYHAWKS (16-9, 2-1)
SCHEDULE: Thursday, 6:00 PM / Friday, 6:00 PM / Saturday, 11:00 AM

RADIO: WTAW-AM 1620 (Dave South and Kevin Hurley)
LIVE AUDIO: aggieathletics.com • radioaggieland.com
LIVE STATS: aggieathletics.com
RANKINGS: A&M - #22 (USAT/ESPN, Rivals); #23 (BB Amer)
SERIES HISTORY: A&M leads, 43-14
A&M STREAKS: Won 7 / Last 5 (5-0) / Last 10 (8-2)
LAST MEETING: A&M 6, Kansas 5 (March 29, 2009 in College Station)

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

• THURSDAY: #50 Barret Loux (Jr., RHP, 4-1, 1.29) vs #39 T.J. Walz (Jr., RHP, 4-2, 6.00)
• FRIDAY: #36 Ross Stripling (So., RHP, 3-1, 4.34) vs #42 Cameron Selik (Sr., RHP, 4-1, 5.14)
• SATURDAY: TBA vs TBA

FOLLOWING THE ACTION

• RADIO — Fans can listen to the game on WTAW-AM 1620 ... Dave South, Scott Clendenin and Kevin Hurley will call the action all season long ... pregame show begins 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
• INTERNET — aggieathletics.com will offer live play-by-play and statistics.
• MOBILE PHONE — listen to the game on your iPhone, Blackberry or PDA free of charge ... log on to radioaggieland.com for more information.
• TWITTER — Follow the team all season long, including live in-game updates, at @aggie_baseball.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available on gameday at Hoglund Ballpark, by phone at 800-34-HAWKS or online at kutickets.com ... reserved seats are $12, while general admission tickets are $8 ($5 for youth).

A&M IN THE BIG 12

Texas A&M has a 199-169-1 record in its 14th season in the Big 12 Conference ... the Aggies have won four league championships, regular-season titles in 1998, 1999 and 2008 and the postseason championship in 2007 ... in one of the tighter races in recent years, A&M finished sixth in the league last season at 14-13.

SERIES HISTORY: KANSAS

Texas A&M leads the all-time series with Kansas, 43-14 ... the Aggies have won seven in a row dating back to the 2007 campaign ... A&M swept last year’s series at Olsen Field ... after taking the opener, 3-0, the Aggies won in walk-off fashion, 7-6, on Saturday and held on a for a 6-5 win on Sunday ... A&M swept the last series between the schools at Hoglund Ballpark, rallying to win both the Saturday and Sunday games in the final inning ... A&M’s 13-6 victory in the series opener in Lawrence in 2008 began its record 16-game Big 12 win streak ... 12 of the last 21 meetings have been decided by either two runs or less, or have gone extra innings ... a Kansas series sweep in Lawrence in 2006 marks KU’s only series victory over Texas A&M in 13 tries as member of the Big 12 ... A&M won the first 11 meetings between the schools in Big 12 play (1997-00) ... Texas A&M is 27-4 in Big 12 play against Kansas when the Aggies score five or more runs ... Kansas is the only current member of the Big 12 that Texas A&M has faced in the College World Series ... the Aggies opened their trip in 1993 with a 5-1 victory over the Jayhawks.

A&M/KU SERIES BREAKDOWN
Series Record A&M leads, 43-14
A&M Streak Won 7
in College Station (since ‘71) A&M leads, 24-6
in Lawrence (since ‘71) A&M leads, 12-6
neutral sites (since ‘71) A&M leads, 3-2

BIG 12 ERA (1997-present)
overall A&M leads, 28-8
in College Station A&M leads, 15-3
in Lawrence A&M leads, 13-5
at Big 12 Tourney never met

A&M vs KU, BIG 12 SERIES HISTORY
overall Won 12, Lost 1
in College Station Won 7, Lost 0
in Lawrence Won 5, Lost 1
A&M Streak Won 3
series opener Won 10, Lost 3

MORE ON KANSAS (16-9, 2-1)

Kansas is 16-9 on the year entering a game Wednesday evening against Missouri State ... the Jayhawks recently snapped a four-game losing skid and have now won five of six, including a 9-8 win over Arkansas-Little Rock Tuesday afternoon ... Kansas is coming off a series win over the Baylor Bears in Waco, taking the weekend with a 12-6, 14-inning win on Sunday ... KU picked up a huge series win earlier in the season, taking two of three from then No. 1-ranked LSU in Baton Rouge ... the Jayhawks rank sixth in the league with a .312 average and eighth with a 4.77 ERA ... for more information visit kuathletics.com.

UP NEXT

Texas A&M returns home for a pair of games next week ... the Aggies host UTSA on Tuesday evening before opening the annual series with Baylor on Friday night at Olsen Field ... the series will then shift to Waco for games next Saturday and Sunday.

A LOOK BACK: TEXAS STATE

Laurn Randell delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Texas State a 6-5 win over No. 22 Texas A&M before a record crowd of 2,603 fans at Bobcat Baseball Stadium ... the Aggies entered the last of the 11th up 5-4, but Kyle Kubitza’s third home run of the year—off the scoreboard in right—tied the game leading off the inning ... the next batter, Jeff McVaney, hit a high chopper to third that went off the glove of a leaping Caleb Shofner and into shallow left field, resulting in a double ... Following a grounder to the right side that moved pinch runner Colton Burnett to third, Randell deposited the first pitch into right for the game winner ... Texas A&M took the lead in the 11th on a Brandon Wood sacrifice fly ... a big story for Aggies fans was the return of sophomore lefty Ross Hales, who started the game and made his first appearance of the season after recovering from off-season shoulder surgery ... he got the first five outs of the game, allowing only a solo home run while not walking a batter and striking out two.

A LOOK BACK: MISSOURI

Texas A&M took two of three games from the Missouri Tigers this past weekend at Olsen Field ... the Aggies defeated MU on Friday (3-1) and Saturday (5-4) before dropping the series finale (13-4) ... on Friday, Barret Loux struck out 11 Missouri batters over seven-plus innings to lead A&M to a 3-1 win ... Loux and closer John Stilson combined to hold a hot-hitting Tiger offense to a season-low three hits, allowing just one walk while fanning 15 on the night ... Joe Patterson’s two-run single in the first would prove to be the game-winner ... on Saturday, Adam Smith delivered a two-run, walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Aggies to a 5-4 win ... down 4-3 entering the last at-bat, freshmen Tyler Naquin and Brandon Wood led off the inning with singles ... one out later, Smith drove a 1-1 offering from Tiger reliever Jeff Emens down into the right field corner ... Naquin scored easily from third, and Wood slid in head-first without a throw to end the game and set the team and the crowd into a frenzy ... on Sunday, Missouri scored six times in the decisive third inning en route to a 13-4 win over A&M to avoid the sweep ... trailing 3-2 after a pair of Aggie home runs, MU sent nine to the plate in the third, scoring six times on six hits ... Mizzou pounded out 17 hits on the day and were led by a 4-for-6, two-RBI effort by Aaron Senne.

NOTES AND NOTABLES: TEAM

• Texas A&M leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally in both strikeouts per nine innings (10.5) and walks allowed per nine innings (1.97) ... A&M is second in the league and seventh nationally in earned run average (3.06) ... the Aggies rank 10th nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (8.04).
• Texas A&M ranks fourth in the Big 12 in batting average (.319).
• The Aggies are in the midst of a stretch that will see them play eight of 10 games on the road ... A&M is 2-2 away from Olsen this year and 1-1 in true road games (4-2 win at Baylor on Feb. 27 and 6-5, loss at Texas State in 11 innings on March 30).
• While struggling at times last season with two-out hitting (.270 average), the Aggies have started 2010 with a bang in that category ... A&M is hitting .365 this year with two outs, and 63 of its 136 RBIs (46 percent) have come with two down.
• The Aggie bullpen has been outstanding so far this season ... through 65 appearances, the pen has combined for a 7-1 record and a 1.99 ERA, giving up 22 earned runs (30 runs total) over 99.2 innings of work ... the group is holding hitters to a .203 average, allows an average of 0.73 hits per inning and features a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.8 ... the pen had its first rough outing of the season on March 21 vs Texas Tech (4.2 IP, 10 H, 9 ER) ... the pen did not allow an earned run over a span of 37.1 innings dating from February 20-March 9.
• Aggie starting pitching in 2010 is 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA and .254 opponent average, walking just 18 and punching out 135 (7.5 K/BB ratio) over 116.2 innings.
• Texas A&M pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts in the March 12 win over No. 25 Washington State ... that tied for the most punchouts in a game by an Aggie staff since Jeff Granger fanned 21 in a win over Lubbock Christian on April 2, 1993 ... A&M also struck out 18 in a win over Texas-Pan American on March 30, 2001.
• A&M pitching has struck out 10 or more batters in 14 games this spring ... the Aggies are averaging 10.5 punchouts per nine innings and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.2.
• Aggie pitching has held opponents to two runs or less in seven games.
• A&M has pounded out 10 or more hits in 14 of 24 games this year (58 percent) ... the offense is hitting .319 and averaging 6.2 runs per game.
• Aggie opponents have scored 55 runs in the six Aggie losses on the year ... 33 of those 55 runs (60 percent) have come in six individual innings (a 7-run third by SFA on Feb. 24, a 4-run fourth by Western Kentucky on Feb. 26, a 5-run second by Washington State on March 13, a 6-run fifth and 5-run sixth by Texas Tech on March 21, and a 6-run third by Missouri on March 28).
• Texas A&M played 20 of its first 23 games at home ... the Aggies’ lone trip out of College Station during the span was for the QTI Baylor Classic in Waco ... A&M played the entire month of March at Olsen Field except for Tuesday night’s game in San Marcos ... the Aggies have nine regular-season games scheduled outside the state of Texas (Big 12 series at Kansas, Nebraska and OSU).

NOTES AND NOTABLES: PLAYER

• Three Aggie pitchers rank in the top 20 nationally in earned run average ... John Stilson (6th, 1.16), Barret Loux (14th, 1.29) and Michael Wacha (1.30, 17th).
• Junior 1B Caleb Shofner leads the team in home runs (5), RBIs (24) and batting average (.396) ... carries a career-high 13-game hit streak into the weekend, hitting .400 over that span with nine RBIs and seven runs scored.
• Senior CF Brodie Greene is hitting .389, second-best on the squad, with six doubles, six triples, four home runs, 20 RBIs and 29 runs scored ... Greene had a career-high 16-game hit streak snapped last Friday against Missouri ... his six triples rank sixth nationally.
• Junior BARRET LOUX leads the country in strikeouts per nine innings (14.91), ranks second in overall strikeouts (58) and 14th in ERA (1.29) ... Loux has punched out 10 or more hitters in each of his last four outings.
• Senior DH Joe Patterson ranks third on the team with a .381 average ... saw a streak of reaching safely (hit, walk or HBP) in 38 straight games snapped on Sunday vs Missouri ... Patterson has hit safely in all but two games this spring (March 7 vs Winthrop, March 28 vs Missouri).
• Sophomore two-way standout John Stilson ranks in the top 10 nationally of three pitching categories—strikeouts per nine innings (2nd, 14.23), hits allowed per nine innings (3rd, 3.19) and earned run average (6th, 1.16).
• Sophomore SCOTT ARTHUR leads the Aggies and ranks sixth nationally with seven sacrifice bunts this season.
• Sophomore John Stilson has made a huge impact in his very brief Aggie career ... Stilson has made 12 appearances in relief so far in 2010 and has already picked up five wins and four saves, and has punched out 52 in 33 innings of work ... opponents are hitting .114 against Stilson.
• True freshman pitcher MICHAEL WACHA has made nine appearances out of the bullpen and is 2-0 with a 0.76 ERA and a save ... saw a string of 21.2 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to Feb. 20 snapped against Texas Tech (March 20) when the Red Raiders pushed home an unearned run.

THURSDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER: #50 BARRET LOUX (JR-2L, rhp)

Has struck out 44 and allowed three earned runs in last four starts (25 innings) ... has fanned 10 or more hitters in four straight games, after entering the year with two career 10+ strikeout outings ... became 12th player in program history to record 200 career strikeouts during win over Missouri (3/26) ... earned the win after going seven-plus and allowing three hits, one run and a walk while fanning 11 ... picked up the victory in the Big 12 opener against Texas Tech (3/19, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 10 K) ... did not factor in the decision against No. 25 Washington State (3/12) ... allowed five hits, two unearned runs and two walks while fanning 11 in 5.1 innings against the Cougars ... named Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week after dominating outing against Winthrop (3/5) ... allowed only a first-inning double in seven strong innings, fanning a career-high 12 ... suffered the loss against Western Kentucky in Waco (2/26), despite allowing one earned run (5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) ... made his first career opening-day start against Seton Hall (2/19), picking up the victory (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K) ... he finished 2009 with a 3-3 record and 4.12 ERA ... ranked fourth on the staff with 62 strikeouts over 48 innings of work and held opposing hitters to a .226 average.

FRIDAY'S PROBABLE STARTER: #36 ROSS STRIPLING (SO-1L, rhp)

Effective but did not earn a decision in A&M’s come-from-behind win over Missouri (3/27) ... allowed six hits and one unearned run, while not walking a batter and punching out six over 4.2 innings ... got a no-decision against Texas Tech in first career Big 12 start (3/20) ... lasted just 2.2 innings, giving up four hits and three runs ... suffered first loss of the season against No. 25 Washington State (3/13) ... touched for five second-inning runs while allowing seven total over five innings of work ... struck out nine, did not walk a batter and allowed one earned run in 6 2/3 innings of work against Winthrop (3/6) ... earned the win at Baylor (2/27), allowing six hits and one earned run over five innings, while not walking a batter and punching out three ... got the win in his first career start against Seton Hall (2/20 - 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) ... emerged as a solid bullpen presence for the Aggies as a true freshman in ‘09 ... appeared in 13 games, all in relief, posting a 1-0 record and 2.51 ERA ... 13 relief outings ranked sixth on the staff .. allowed first earned run in his seventh appearance (March 18 vs New Mexico) ... struck out the first six batters he faced in his A&M career ... played summer ball with the San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Blues of the wood-bat Sierra Baseball League ... went 2-2 with a 1.96 ERA in 36.2 innings of work ... fanned 56 and walked just 12.

AGGIES PEGGED THIRD IN BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL

Texas A&M was picked to finish third in a preseason vote of the league’s head coaches.

Defending regular-season champion Texas (81) was a unanimous choice as the league favorite, followed by Kansas (69), the Aggies (64), Oklahoma (57), Oklahoma State (47), Baylor (39), Kansas State (29), Missouri (22), Nebraska (22) and Texas Tech (20). Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

2010 BIG 12 BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
School (1st place votes) Points
1. Texas (9) 81
2. Kansas (1) 69
3. Texas A&M 64
4. Oklahoma 57
5. Oklahoma State 47
6. Baylor 39
7. Kansas State 29
8. Missouri 22
Nebraska 22
10. Texas Tech 20

TEXAS A&M IN THE NCAA RANKINGS

A look at Texas A&M in the NCAA’s second statistical rankings, through games of March 28...

A&M IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
Category NCAA Rk
Walks Allowed/9 inn. 1.97 2nd
Strikeouts/9 inn. 10.5 2nd
Earned Run Average 3.06 7th
Hits Allowed/9 inn. 8.04 10th
Triples 11 24th
W/L Percentage .739 30th

AGGIES IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
Player Category NCAA Rk
Michael Wacha ERA 1.30 17th
John Stilson ERA 1.16 6th
Barret Loux ERA 1.29 14th
Barret Loux K/9 inn. 14.91 1st
John Stilson K/9 inn. 14.23 2nd
John Stilson Hits/9 inn. 3.19 3rd
Michael Wacha Hits/9 inn. 6.22 39th
Barret Loux Hits/9 inn. 5.66 21st
Ross Stripling Walks/9 inn. 0.93 16th
Michael Wacha Walks/9 inn. 1.04 20th
Barret Loux Strikeouts 58 2nd
John Stilson Strikeouts 49 12th
John Stilson Wins 5 7th
Barret Loux Wins 4 34th
John Stilson Saves 4 35th
Brodie Greene Triples 6 2nd
Caleb Shofner Hit by Pitch 9 27th
Scott Arthur Sac Bunts 7 6th