COLLEGE STATION, Texas – For a second consecutive week, the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team will go head-to-head with a nationally-ranked opponent as the squad hits the road for a matchup with No. 8 Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
 
HOW TO WATCH
 
Fans of UIW baseball can catch all the action live on SEC Network + with Will Johnson and Mark Johnson on the call. SEC Network + provides digital-only events to SEC Network subscribers through WatchESPN and the ESPN app on smartphones, computers, tablets and connected devices (Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One).
 
FIRST PITCH
 
The Cardinals have already faced a number of high-powered opponents this season and have proven they are more than capable of rising to the challenge. UIW split a four-game series with North Dakota State (third in Summit League preseason poll) over opening weekend. The Cardinals posted arguably the biggest win in UIW Athletics history, with a 5-3 defeat of No. 30 Notre Dame at the Alamo Irish Classic. In game two of the tournament, UIW held a 4-0 lead over Purdue, but a 10th-inning walk-off single allowed the Boilermakers to slip past the Cardinals, 5-4. UIW immediately responded with back-to-back wins against Saint Louis (first in Atlantic 10 preseason poll).
 
While the Cardinals enter Wednesday's matchup with an impressive resume, they have yet to face an opponent like the Aggies. Texas A&M currently leads the SEC in both batting average (.364) and ERA (1.43). The Aggies were picked to finish second in the SEC western division preseason poll.
 
Texas A&M is no stranger to Southland Conference opponents. Last season the Aggies played six games against Southland members, going 5-1. Their only SLC loss came at the hands of eventual Southland Conference Champion Sam Houston. Texas A&M has gotten reacquainted with Southland competition already this season, dispatching Stephen F. Austin, 11-4, on Feb. 20. The Aggies play Houston Baptist at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, before hosting UIW.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
 
Record: 7-0 overall, 0-0 SEC
Head Coach: Rob Childress
Leaders:
No. 9 Fr. OF Zach DeLoach – .519 AVG, 14 H, 12 R, 7 RBI, 2 HR
No. 5 So. OF Logan Foster – .476 AVG, 10 H, 8 RBI, 5 R
No. 1 Jr. INF Michael Helman – .400 AVG, 10 H, 8 RBI, 8 R, 2 HR
Starting Pitcher:
No. 37 Fr. LHP Dustin Saenz (0-0) – 0.00 ERA, 4.2 IP, 3 SO, 2 BB
Summary:
The Aggies has a chance to start 9-0 for the first time since 2015 with victories over Houston Baptist on Tuesday and UIW on Wednesday. Freshman outfielder Zach DeLoach was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive week on Monday, after breaking a school record with a five-run performance against Stephen F. Austin.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
Record: 5-3 overall, 0-0 SLC
Head Coach: Patrick Hallmark
Leaders:
No. 24 So. C Kyle Bergeron – .357 AVG, 10 H, 7 RBI, 3 R, 1 HR
No. 21 Jr. OF Eddy Gonzalez – .269 AVG, 7 H, 4 R, 1 RBI
No. 8 So. INF David Anaya – .174 AVG, 8 RBI, 4 H, 2 R, 1 HR
Starting Pitcher:
None announced
Summary: Dubbed the 'Cardiac Cards' in 2017, this year's team has already exhibited a flair for the dramatic. UIW won two games with late home runs, including a 5-3 upset of No. 30 Notre Dame in the Alamo Irish Classic. The Cardinals have had a pair of contests go into extra innings, including a 5-4 loss to Purdue on a walk-off single in the 10th.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
Texas A&M holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series with UIW. The Aggies picked up a 12-5 victory in the most recent meeting between programs on March 1, 2017. The Cardinals threw six pitchers in the contest, including four that are members of the current roster (Luke Taggart, Cody Allen, Tyler Miller and Ramon Salazar). Bergeron paced the Cardinals offensively in last year's meeting, going 1-for-5 with a pair of RBIs. Anaya and Ryan Gonzalez each registered 1 hit, 1 run and 1 RBI.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW will host a four-game series against Northern Illinois, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. The teams will meet for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, before closing out the weekend with an 11 a.m. series finale on Sunday.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals head to Manhattan, Kan., for a two-game series against Kansas State March 6-7. Tuesday's game is set for 3 p.m., while Wednesday's contest starts at noon.
 
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.