When I started this series a few weeks ago, the goal was to focus on one series at the collegiate level per week. However, when looking at the various series across the Oklahoma college baseball landscape for this weekend, that was virtually impossible.
Yesterday, I focused on a top 20 matchup at the JUCO level. Today, it’s time to look at another top 20 matchup – this time at the NCAA D1 level.
The 22nd ranked team in the country according to D1Baseball, the Texas A&M Aggies come to Norman to play the #9 Oklahoma Sooners for a 3 game set starting Friday night.
Details
- Who: #9 Oklahoma vs #22 Texas A&M
- Where: Kimrey Family Stadium, Norman, OK
- When: Fri: 6:30 p.m., Sat: 4:00 p.m.; Sun: 2:00 p.m.
Both of these teams come into the SEC opening series with impressive records. OU has a record of 15-2 while TAMU is at 15-1. They have one common opponent in Arizona State where the Sooners split a 2 game set with the Sun Devils and the Aggies won their lone game.
The Sooners have a three impressive wins against Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and TCU all which came in the first weekend of the season.
The Aggies have a win against Virginia Tech who is 8-7, but they did get run ruled against UCLA in their only other game against a non mid major (or lower).
That is not to say that TAMU hasn’t been impressive to this point. They are currently 23rd in RPI compared to OU at 35.
Oklahoma Sooners
- Team Batting AVG: .310
- Team OBP: .452
- Team SLG: .511
- Team HR: 18
- Team RBI: 148
- Team ERA: 2.96
- Team WHIP: 1.08
- Team BB: 54
- Team SO: 182
Coming into the season, OU head coach Skip Johnson said he was more excited about this offense than he has been any other while at OU. It has been easy to see why. Known for “chaos” where they produce runs by creating them on the base paths, the Sooners have shown they can get on base and slug this season as well. Their OBP is up over .65 points from last season and their SLG % is up almost .60 points as well.
What is the biggest difference? The Sooners are averaging 8.71 walks per game this season compared to 5.17/game in 2025. That is over 3 extra base runners in 2026.
The Sooners have 6 qualified batter with averages over .300 at this point. Leading the charge in that department is Deiten Lachance at .404. Lachance is also 2nd on the team in RBI and OBP and has an OPS of 1.080.
Trey Gambill leads the team in OPS at 1.157 and is 2nd in SLG at .605.
Brendan Brock has arguably been the best all around hitter for the Sooners. He’s 2nd in AVG (.351), 1st in SLG (.667), and 1st in RBI (21).
When it comes to the pitching side of things, OU has been most impressive in their weekend starting rotation. Friday starter, Cam Johnson, and Saturday starter, LJ Mercurius, have been 2 of the best starters in the SEC so far this season. In their 4 starts, Johnson and Mercurius have ERAs of 2.11 and 0.39 respectively. Mercurius’ WHIP is a miniscule 0.64 and both pitcher are averaging over 9 Ks/9 IP. Sunday starter, Cord Rager has an impressive 3.50 ERA 4 starts into his true freshman campaign.
In Anthony Ranaudo’s SEC Starting Pitcher Rankings, he has Johnson and Mercurius at 2 and 3 and they are the only teammates in the top 10.
Texas A&M
- Team Batting AVG: .344
- Team OBP: .474
- Team SLG: .612
- Team HR: 32
- Team RBI: 144
- Team ERA: 2.95
- Team WHIP: 0.99
- Team BB: 23
- Team SO: 133
As you can see, Texas A&M has similar stats to the Sooners.
Offensively, the Aggies have higher numbers than the Sooners, but I would argue that comes against less competition than what OU has seen. Also, while they have more bombs (32 to 18) than OU, they have 4 RBI less than the Sooners.
Caden Sorrell and Gavin Grahovac have been the highlight of the Aggies lineup with Sorrell considered a potential 1st round MLB draft pick. Sorrell has tremendous power and already has 8 bombs on the season.
Chris Hacopian, a transfer from Maryland, is another potential 1st round pick but has been out with an injury. However, Texas A&M coach, Michael Earley says that he and Wesley Jordan (who was batting .474) should both be back in the lineup “at some point” this weekend.
Aiden Sims and Shane Sdao have led the Aggies on the mound this year. Sims comes in with an ERA of 1.59 and Sdao at 2.49. They are also both averaging more than 9 K/9 IP.
Weston Moss is another pitcher with 4 starts this year and his ERA is at 5.21.
Outside of Sims, Sdao, and Moss, the stats show that the rest of the staff does not get the punch outs that the Sooners do.
Interesting Back Story
Coming into this series, I can’t help but think back to the summer of 2024. Then Aggie head coach, Jim Schlossnagle left College Station for rival, Texas, and there was a few days that OU’s Skip Johnson was in line for the A&M job. It was even rumored that he had been offered and accepted the job at one point.
You can read about it here.
Looking back at it, it was a blessing that Skip got the extension to stay at OU – a place he seems to want to be at.
Outlook
I’ll be honest. I knew A&M was good – they are ranked by D1Baseball after all, but I did not realize how gaudy their offensive number actually were. But after digging a little deeper, the Aggies have not played the teams that OU has. That is not to say they aren’t good and won’t be a tough test for the Sooners, but I think OU has shown it against better competition (Gonzaga and Santa Clara are going to challenge for their conference titles).
According to the OU Athletic Department, most of (if not all) the tickets except for SRO have been sold so the crowds should be loud and proud for the Sooners this weekend. I know I’ll be there Friday night and hopefully on Saturday.
It is the SEC and it is going to be tough, but I think OU is the better team at this point and I see the Sooners taking 2 of 3 from A&M this weekend and I wouldn’t be surprised if they get the sweep.
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