The goal for LSU in the second half of the SEC schedule is to play consistent baseball. If the Tigers accomplish that, they will win more games and get into the NCAA Tournament. If they don’t, they will not participate in a Regional for the first time since 2011.
“We need to play better baseball; I know that’s simplistic, but that’s what has to happen,” said Johnson. “It’s one-thousand percent about the way we play. You have to pitch well, defend, and excel in timely or situational hitting. This team has won games when it’s done that, but it hasn’t done it enough. I think there is plenty of better baseball in us, and it’s our job to execute.”
LSU begins a three-game series Friday night against a very talented Texas A&M team that’s ranked in the top ten in three different polls. The Aggies are 28-7, 9-5 in the SEC.
Last year, A&M was in LSU’s shoes. They needed to finish strong to get in the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies took two of three from LSU in early May, but were swept by Missouri the following weekend and did not make the NCAA Tournament despite a preseason number one ranking.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Aggies who have done a better job at staying away from the injury bug.
Texas A&M’s Bats:
This looks like a bad matchup for LSU, considering its struggles to throw strikes.
Aggie hitters are fourth in the country in walks with 228. Not good considering LSU’s pitchers have walked 173 hitters, fourth most in the SEC.
As a team, the Aggies are hitting .316, third highest in the SEC, and 16th in the country.
Texas A&M has also hit the third most home runs in the SEC with 73.
The Aggies have three players who could be selected within the top 35 picks of the Major League Baseball draft.
OF Caden Sorrell has been one of the top players in college baseball. Sorrell was in the transfer portal in 2024, and LSU Coach Jay Johnson said he did everything he could to get him to come to LSU.
Sorrell decided to stay at College Station, and this season he’s hitting .327 with 17 home runs and 57 RBIs. The junior left-handed hitter leads the SEC in home runs and runs driven in, and leads the SEC in slugging percentage with .831.
Gavin Grahovac is healthy after missing nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury. He’s hitting .356 with 9 home runs and 46 RBI.
Maryland transfer Chris Hacopian could be a Top 20 pick. He missed a couple of weeks before the start of SEC play because of back stiffness. Hacopian is hitting .294 with 4 home runs and 17 RBIs.
Texas A&M’s arms:
While the Aggies are a great offensive team, they’ve struggled on the mound.
A&M’s team ERA is 4.73, which ranked 13th in the SEC. That’s not much better than LSU’s, which is at 4.84.
Texas A&M doesn’t walk a lot of people, just 93 walks. But the Aggies do not strike out a lot of hitters, just 298, the fewest in the SEC.
Aiden Sims is A&M’s best starter. He’s 6-0 with a 3.56 ERA in 48 innings. He’s walked 15, struck out 51, and opposing hitters are hitting .205 against him. Sims is scheduled to start on Saturday.
Texas A&M will send junior left-hander Shane Sdao to the mound for game one. Sdao missed all of last season with an injury. This year, he’s 3-2 with a 5.77 ERA. Two starts ago, he gave up four home runs to Vanderbilt.
Clayton Freshcorn has an SEC-high seven saves, and he’s 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA, 27 strikeouts in 23 innings, and only four walks.
Texas A&M also plays good defense. They are tied for the second-highest fielding percentage.
LSU’s Regional hopes:
LSU is a bubble team at the halfway point of the SEC schedule. LSU’s RPI is 67. The Aggies RPI is 12th.
According to D1 Baseball’s projected bracket, LSU is one of the last four teams in the NCAA Tournament.
Baseball America does not have LSU in its projected 64-team bracket.
LSU injury update:
LSU pitcher Cooper Moore, second baseman Seth Dardar, and infielder Trent Caraway are listed as questionable on the SEC Availability Report.
Johnson said on Thursday he’s hopeful Moore can pitch, but not certain. Moore has not pitched in nearly a month because of a triceps injury. LSU did not name a Sunday starter.
Dardar has an injured ankle, and Caraway missed last weekend with a cut finger.
Relief pitcher Dax Dathe has been ruled out.
