Texas A&M
Cal Poly Takes On No. 1 Texas A&M at College Station
2/20/2025 2:45:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly had a 1-3 opening weekend on the road in Los Angeles, but the Mustangs will attempt to carry their positive momentum from Monday’s 9-1 victory over LMU into this weekend’s series against college baseball’s consensus No. 1 Texas A&M.
This week's opponent: the nation's consensus #1 team in college baseball! ??
— Cal Poly Baseball (@CalPolyBSB) February 18, 2025
Tune in to ESPN+ for an exciting three-game series featuring a pair of historic programs with your Cal Poly Mustangs and the Texas A&M Aggies!#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/sM5Uy12Nzv
About Last Week
Though not the start Cal Poly hoped for coming off a 35-win 2024 season, there were plenty of bright spots and the Mustangs are in no worse a position than last season's 2-5 record in the month of February. UCLA, predicted for a top-third finish in the B1G, swept the Mustangs in a three-game series 2-3, 2-18, and 0-16.
The opening day contest and closest game of the series featured a tight pitcher’s duel down to the very end of the game where both opponents were competitive and capable of winning. The Mustangs and Bruins tallied four hits apiece and unfortunately for Cal Poly one of those turned into UCLA’s go-ahead run in the 7th inning.
The only true, isolated highlight through the final two games of the series was Zach Daudet’s home run, the first of the year and far earlier than last season when the Mustangs had not hit their first homer until the 14th game of the year, against Ohio State. Otherwise, Jack Collins showed flashes of consistency, both offensively and defensively, from the catcher position (.444 average, 1.000 fielding).
Cal Poly enjoyed a breakout game against LMU in the first midweek contest of the season on Monday, with the Mustangs achieving their season-high runs and hits tallies and breaking up the Lions’ three-game win streak to start the year. Nine Mustangs picked up hits, while Jack Collins, Braxton Thomas, and Alejandro Garza notched multiple RBIs.
True freshman fielders Nate Castellon and Dante Vachini each logged their first career collegiate hit and first-year hurlers Troy Cooper and Luke Kalfsbeek enjoyed their first outing with zero runs allowed.
Mustangs Riding High
Jack Collins leads the Mustangs in almost every hitting category and looks like a solid defensive option behind the plate, something that might have once been a cause for concern with the loss of Buster Posey Award finalist Ryan Stafford.
The junior transfer from conference rival Long Beach State has shown poise and determination in both phases of the game, kicking off his debut season at Cal Poly with a four-game hit streak and team-leading .429 batting average.
Arguably Cal Poly’s three most important returning hitters Zach Daudet (1 HR, 1.017 OPS, .300 AVG), Alejandro Garza (4 H, 2 RBI, .267 AVG), and Ryan Fenn (4 H, 2 2B, .235 AVG) are all providing adequate offense to help the Mustangs right the ship and get back to their winning ways.
At… #1 Texas A&M - Friday, Feb. 21 to Sunday, Feb. 23
Not only was Texas A&M last season’s college world series runner-up but the Aggies have been the consensus No. 1 ranked squad since the preseason, predicted to cross the fabled 50-win threshold and take this season’s crown (D1Baseball). Cal Poly, for its mid-major standing, is a respectable 10-16 against Top-25 ranked teams over the last decade.
The Aggies took the field against Elon in their opening series, handily sweeping the Phoenix 4-2, 16-6, and 12-6. Jace LaViolette, projected top-5 overall pick in this season’s MLB Draft, is A&M’s most notable returner and went 3-for-10 (.300) through opening weekend but all three hits yielded home runs for seven RBI and a 1.200 SLG rate to pair with two successful stolen bases. Terrence Kiel II leads the Aggies with a .500 average, but nine different players are already hitting above .250 average.
Texas A&M’s pitching is just as impressive, with Ryan Prager going five complete innings last weekend while allowing just one hit and striking out eight (.063 OPP B/AVG). All three starters struck out at least eight as well, as Myles Patton allowed one earned run and four hits in five innings. The Aggies bullpen also featured three relievers who pitched more than one complete inning while allowing no runs.
Cal Poly and Texas A&M have never faced each other, but the last time the Mustangs played a #1 ranked opponent came during a stunning 9-8 victory over Vanderbilt in 2020. Cal Poly rallied for two runs on sacrifice flies by Cole Cabrera and Tate Samuelson in the bottom of the ninth inning to overcome No. 1-ranked Vanderbilt 9-8 on Sunday in the MLB4 Tournament, an upset that made its way to MLB.com and showed that Cal Poly can stand among the country’s best squads.
Friday's opening game of the series will now be 2:00 p.m. PST due to inclement weather.
?? SCHEDULE UPDATE ??
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) February 20, 2025
Due to inclement weather, Friday's series opener has been moved up to a 4 p.m. start.
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