“Coming in to that opportunity was awesome because the atmosphere was crazy. It’s the College World Series, everything is cool about it.”
After Tennessee tallied three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on Saturday night during the College World Series finals opener, Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle knew that he needed to call upon one man with a very particular set of skills.
He called upon the “Stopper of the Year” to close the game. Senior LHP Evan Aschenbeck did exactly that, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings and giving up 2 hits with a staggering 7 strikeouts on 46 pitches.
“It’s just something that I’ve been doing all year,” Aschenbeck recalled. “Just trying to give my team the best chance to win, that’s what pitchers are for. Max (Weiner) tells us all the time, ‘If some guy comes in and doesn’t have a good outing, the next guy can’t do that.’ Our job as relief pitchers is to come in and pick up the guy in front of us.
“Coming in to that opportunity was awesome because the atmosphere was crazy. It’s the College World Series, everything is cool about it. It was staying present and going pitch to pitch is what worked for me.”
The No. 3 Aggies (53-13) will attempt to win their first national championship in program history on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus No. 1 Tennessee (58-13) on ABC and ESPN+.
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“We really played well. Had some really good at-bats against some really good pitchers. Tennessee has got a great, diverse pitching staff.”
Coach Jim Schlossnagle reached the College World Series five times in 17 years at TCU without winning it all but he’s one win away from doing so during his second appearance in three seasons at Texas A&M.
“Great ball game, certainly I thought we really played well for the most part, we got timely hits. Had some really good at-bats against some really good pitchers. Tennessee has got a great, diverse pitching staff,” Schlossnagle said Saturday night. “I thought Prager threw some things, Stewie was awesome, Evan was Evan and Kaeden Kent just continues to play outstanding the back half of the season. It’s one win, we can’t make it anything more than that. Still got a ball game and a series to win, just like the regular season.”
The No. 3 Aggies (53-13) will attempt to win their first national championship in program history on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus No. 1 Tennessee (58-13) on ABC and ESPN+.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.
Texas A&M sophomore second baseman Kaeden Kent went 3-for-5 with a game-high 4 runs batted in during a 9-5 win versus SEC rival Tennessee to begin the College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The son of 2000 NL MVP …
Texas A&M sophomore second baseman Kaeden Kent went 3-for-5 with a game-high 4 runs batted in during a 9-5 win versus SEC rival Tennessee to begin the College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
The son of 2000 NL MVP Jeff Kent tallied 14 RBI in the regular season and has already matched that total in the NCAA Tournament, which is tied for second most in the nation.
“I think it’s attributed to the support that I get and the people that believe in me, have my back and I can count on. People, like my parents or brother, I can look at them in the stands and they can pound their chest like, ‘You got this!’ That puts a lot of relaxation on my mind to ease down,” Kent explained Saturday night. “That (HR) at-bat, it was a 2-2 slider, I don’t know, he hung a slider and I was able to get it.”
The No. 3 Aggies (53-13) will attempt to win their first national championship in program history on Sunday at 1 p.m. versus No. 1 Tennessee (58-13) on ABC and ESPN+.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.
During the first College World Series finals game in program history, the Texas A&M baseball team came out hot, scoring seven runs in the first three innings.
During the first College World Series finals game in program history, the Texas A&M baseball team came out hot, scoring seven runs in the first three innings.
The No. 3 Aggies (53-13) jumped out to a 9-2 lead versus top seed Tennessee (58-13) and won the matchup of SEC squads by a final score of 9-5 to win Game 1 of the CWS finals. Texas A&M tallied 2 runs in the first frame, 5 in the third and 2 in the seventh. The Volunteers scored once in the second and third, respectively, and 3 in the seventh.
Two Aggies freshmen got the party started in the top of the first. Third baseman Gavin Grahovac belted an oppo taco with a solo home run to right field to begin the contest. It was his 23rd of the season, which set a new franchise record for a freshman, and his fifth leadoff jack of the year.
Senior catcher Jackson Appel doubled down the left field line, then freshman outfielder Caden Sorrell singled into center and plated Appel.
Superstar sophomore OF Jace LaViolette drew a walk to start the fifth inning and Appel hit an infield single. Graduate student designated hitter Hayden Schott singled up the middle to score LaViolette. Sorrell singled to right to score Schott and make the score 4-0.
Senior first baseman Ted Burton plated a run next after making it to first on a fielder’s choice. Burton scored on an error by junior 3B Billy Amick, who allowed junior shortstop Ali Camarillo to reach base safely. Then sophomore second baseman Kaeden Kent singled to right center field to score Camarillo and Sorell, increasing the advantage to 7-1.
Kent blasted a 2-run bomb to right field in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-2. Despite Tennessee tallying 3 runs in the bottom half of the frame and putting runners on the corners in the ninth, Texas A&M earned a 9-5 victory to begin the CWS finals.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager got the start on the mound and tossed 4.0 innings and allowed 8 hits and 2 runs with 6 strikeouts on 81 pitches. Junior RHP Josh Stewart earned the win in relief of Prager. He pitched 2.1 frames and gave up 3 walks, 2 runs and 1 hit with 4 Ks on 56 pitches.
Junior RHP Brad Rudis tossed 2 pitches and allowed a solo shot to junior DH Hunter Ensley. Then the “Stopper of the Year,” senior LHP Evan Aschenbeck, closed the game, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings and giving up 2 hits with a staggering 7 punch outs on 46 pitches.
Kent went 3-for-5 with a game-high 4 runs batted in. The son of 2000 NL MVP Jeff Kent tallied 14 RBI in the regular season and has already matched that total in the NCAA Tournament, which is tied for second most in the nation.
The Aggies will attempt to win their first national championship in school history on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ABC and ESPN+.
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“This trip has meant a lot with how close this group is and how we’ve been able to pull it off. I’m just on cloud nine right now,” he said.
Despite suffering a season-ending injury in the first game of the Super Regionals, junior outfielder Braden Montgomery is elated ahead of Texas A&M‘s first College World Series finals appearance in program history.
“Just how happy I am for the guys on the field. They’ve embraced everything that coach has told us and man, they’ve been shining out there! It’s been awesome to see. I got all the confidence in the world in those guys. I’m happy to see what they’ve put together and the show they put on out there. I’m excited to see what we do going forward, it’s been awesome,” Montgomery told Tyler Shaw of KBTX on Wednesday. “I guess my role has changed into just being, I don’t really even know! I guess every day I just show up to the field and try to figure out how I can best impact the guys. I know that I play my best when I got high energy and I’m connected to my joy.
“No one puts out their best self when they’re not happy. I try my best to, no matter what, boost the guys, keep them going and ready to give themselves the best chance to be successful. Baseball is a tough game, so all you can do is give it yourself the best shot! That’s what I’m trying to do for these guys.
“It’s cool to actually win this time! All trips have been unbelievable and just the road to get here is tough enough. Sometimes I can lose sight of what came before the World Series when you’ve come and don’t perform as well as you expect. This trip has obviously meant a lot with how we’ve been doing, how close this group is and how we’ve been able to pull it off.
“I’m just on cloud nine right now.”
The No. 3 Aggies face SEC rival Tennessee in a best of three set. The top seed Volunteers haven’t reached the CWS finals since 1951. First pitch on Saturday is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
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“I remember coming to these games when I was like 10-years-old and always wanting to be a part of this… But the job is not finished yet.”
Freshman outfielder Caden Sorrell’s 2-run homer on Wednesday night during a 5-0 victory versus SEC foe Florida propelled Texas A&M to its first appearance in the College World Series finals.
“It’s definitely an amazing feeling. I remember coming to these games when I was like 10-years-old and always wanting to be a part of this,” Sorell said postgame. “So finally being here and making it this far is an amazing feeling, but obviously, the job is not finished yet.”
The No. 3 Aggies face SEC rival Tennessee in a best of three set. The top seed Volunteers haven’t reached the CWS finals since 1951. First pitch on Saturday at Charles Schwab Field is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The matchup is the eighth in championship history between two teams from the same conference and sixth from the SEC. For the fifth straight season, the baseball national champion is guaranteed to be from the SEC.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.
“It means a lot to me, I grew up a big A&M fan so it’s awesome to be a part of the team that’s able to be the first that’s made the finals.”
Josh Stewart pitched 2.0 shutout innings of relief on Wednesday night during a 5-0 victory versus SEC foe Florida to clinch Texas A&M‘s first appearance in the College World Series finals.
The junior right-handed pitcher gave up 1 hit with 4 strikeouts on 30 pitches. Stewart replaced starter Justin Lamkin, who set a program record for Ks in a CWS contest.
“It means a lot to me, I grew up a big A&M fan so it’s just awesome to be a part of the team that’s able to be the first team that’s made the finals,” Stewart said postgame. “It’s really cool to be a part of!”
The No. 3 Aggies face SEC rival Tennessee in a best of three set. The top seed Volunteers haven’t reached the CWS finals since 1951. First pitch on Saturday is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The matchup is the eighth in championship history between two teams from the same conference and sixth from the SEC. For the fifth straight season, the baseball national champion is guaranteed to be from the SEC.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.
“The big part of it is just having self-confidence in myself, knowing that I can go out there, compete and play at this level,” Lamkin said.
Texas A&M sophomore left-handed pitcher Justin Lamkin tossed another gem on Wednesday evening at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
He earned the win by pitching 5.0 scoreless innings and allowing 3 hits and 1 walk with 9 strikeouts on 70 pitches. Lamkin set a new franchise record with the most Ks ever in a College World Series contest.
“The big part of it is just having self-confidence in myself, knowing that I can go out there, compete and play at this level,” Lamkin said postgame. “I think getting ahead of hitters and having true confidence in all of my pitches really helped me out.”
The No. 3 Aggies face SEC rival Tennessee in a best of three set. The top seed Volunteers haven’t reached the CWS finals since 1951 while its the first appearance for Texas A&M. First pitch on Saturday is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The matchup is the eighth in championship history between two teams from the same conference and sixth from the SEC. For the fifth straight season, the baseball national champion is guaranteed to be from the SEC.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.
“Great ball game and I thought we played really well. Lamkin was outstanding… Excited to get some rest and to play for a national title!”
Led by head coach Jim Schlossnagle in his third year at Texas A&M, the No. 3 Aggies clinched their first College World Series finals appearance on Wednesday evening with a shutout victory of SEC rival Florida.
“It was a great ball game and I thought we played really, really well. Lamkin was obviously outstanding. The decision was just trying to figure out how long to leave him in there, you know, win the game but still give us a chance over the weekend since we’re down a pitcher,” Schlossnagle explained. “Stewie made big pitches to get us out of a jam. Cortez will be better next time, I have no doubt. Obviously, Grahovac had some big hits. I thought Sorrell’s homer really played a huge part in the game just to give us a little bit of length on the lead.
“Excited to get some rest and get to play for a national title!”
Texas A&M begins the most important best of three set in program history Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. vs. No. 1 Tennessee on ESPN.
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View some of the best photos from Texas A&M’s victory over Florida on Wednesday night.
History has been made with the Texas A&M shutout win over Florida to advance to the program’s first-ever College World Series Final. The Aggies went 8-0 the NCAA Tournament, beating a lot of tough teams along the way, and with all the talk being about the A&M offense to start the season, the pitching has been the talk of the town.
During their 3-0 run in the finals, the team allowed only runs and set a CWS program record with 16 strikeouts in the first game against the Gators. Then, after a 14-strikeout performance on Wednesday night, they set a new team record of 680 strikeouts on the season. Max Weiner said it best about his pitchers in the tournament.
“I hope that the story of this isn’t that they had out-of-body games – they were just themselves.”
The Aggies are on a heck of a run. They finally had a drama-free game and continued to rewrite the Texas A&M baseball record books. Below, you can see some of the best photos from the victory over Florida.
Contact/Follow @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
