The start of SEC play for No. 21 Texas A&M (15-9) has been less than ideal. After being swept by No. 12 Tennessee (19-6) over the weekend they dropped to the bottom of the SEC with a 1-5 record.
game one recap
The scoring started fast with the teams combining for 10 runs before the third inning. Unfortunately for the Aggies, they would get cold and remain scoreless until the top of the eighth and only manage three hits the whole game.
The Aggies scored first off a Jack Moss single allowing Kasen Wells to cross home plate then a balk scored Hunter Haas. Things were looking to be off to a good start, but it was short-lived. Tennessee would answer with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Jace LaViolette started the second with a triple to right field and would later be plated after a Hank Bard infield hit, cutting the lead by one. However, just like the first inning Tennessee would answer again by scoring two runs on three hits for a 7-3 lead.
Texas A&M only produced one hit through the rest of the game as the Vols scored two runs in the fifth and hit a home run in the seventh to push the lead 10-3. The Aggie scored one last time in the eighth inning for a final score of 10-4 losing to Tennessee.
Final Score: Aggies 4, Vols 10 – W: Dollander, Chase (4-2); L: Dettmer, Nathan (1-3)
Final: Tennessee 10, A&M 4
Game two with the Vols is an early one. 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/EDtJX2lv3K
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 25, 2023
game two recap
In a much more competitive game, this time around the Aggies had a chance to even up the series with a late-game defensive stop. Tennessee was not going to be denied and completed a comeback win to give the Aggies their second straight SEC series loss.
Jack Moss has been on a hitting streak and that continued with a two RBI home run to left center field scoring Wells. Tennessee put one on the board in the bottom of the first to cut into the lead. They followed that up with three runners crossing the plate in the second inning to take the lead 4-2 over the Aggies.
Both teams remained scoreless until the top of the sixth. Then with two outs, Moss hit a single followed up by an Austin Bost double. Playing copycat LaViolette hit a double down the left field line scoring Bost & Moss. The last score came on a fielding error by Tennessee allowing Trevor Werner to score. Texas A&M tacked on another run of a Moss RBI double in the top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead.
Unable to close out the inning with two outs in the bottom of the seventh the Aggies allowed Tennessee to score three runs to tie the game. Then in what’s becoming the main storyline of the season Aggie pitching walked the first batter then a wild pitch allowed him to advance to second base. Game on the line Tennesse hits a sac fly to right field for the comeback win.
Final Score: Aggies 7, Vols 8 – W: Sewell, Camden (1-0); L: Johnston, Will
Game two ends with a walk off sacrifice fly.
Finale set for noon central tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/AthIwKIojx
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 25, 2023
game three recap
The final game of the series was close through the first half of the game, but Tennessee would score in five innings straight to build a comfortable lead late. A small rally at the end of the game gave the Aggies hope but they still fell short resulting in a series sweep.
The most reliable thing about the Aggies of the past few weeks has been Moss. For the third consecutive game, he gets Texas A&M on the board this time with a home run to give them a 1-0 lead. After a Tennessee home run in the third inning, the Aggies tied the game briefly in the top of the fifth with Hass Sac fly to score Hank Bard to the score to 3-3
Tennessee blanked Texas A&M for the next three innings while adding six runs to take a 9-3 lead into the top of the ninth. Again, Moss logged another RBI allowing Kent to score. A fielding error brought Stanley Tucker home, then a Sac fly scored Haas. Still down three scores with two outs Aggie’s luck this inning finally ran out with Warner striking out to end the game.
Final Score: Aggies 6, Vols 9 – W: Halvorsen, Seth (2-1); L: Lamkin, Justin (1-2)
Final: Tennessee 9, Texas A&M 6
Ninth inning rally falls short. Aggies and Longhorns will play on Tuesday night. First pitch from Blue Bell Park set for 6:02 p.m. pic.twitter.com/EEFUUL3eUB
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) March 26, 2023
Check out some highlights from the series courtesy of the Official Texas A&M Twitter account.