Tag: Evan Aschenbeck

How to watch Game 2 of Texas A&M vs. Tennessee in the College World Series Finals

Here is the early start time for Game 2 of the College World Series Finals

Texas A&M (53-13) is just 27 outs away from winning the first major National Championship program history after defeating top-seeded Tennessee 9-5 on Saturday night. The Aggies’ offense woke up early, scoring seven runs in the first and third innings.

Aggies’ ace Ryan Prager once again demonstrated his prowess on the mound, delivering a stellar performance with unwavering confidence. He recorded six strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs after 81 pitches in four innings, a testament to his skill and dedication.

After the redshirt sophomore walked to the bench with a standing ovation, Josh Stewart relied on his nasty pitching style to get through two more innings with four Ks while allowing just two more runs. After two quick pitches from Ryan Rudis, which led to a solo Tennessee home run, elite closer Evan Aschenbeck came in.

Throwing with his usual swagger, the senior was lights out in critical moments, recording seven strikeouts with just two hits, and after 46 pitches, Aschenbeck knows that a short is likely imminent regarding the stakes at hand:

“It’s the College World Series. I will be ready to go. There is not a doubt in my mind.”

Offensively, everyone contributed. SEC Freshman of the Year 3B Gavin Grahovic led things off in first with a huge solo home run to take the early 1-0 lead, followed by fellow freshman Caden Sorrell’s RBI single to finish out the inning.

Going into the third, the Aggie bats exploded for five runs. In contrast, junior CWS standout Kaeden Kent, who went 3-5 with four RBI on the night, ended the frame with an RBI single. Kent then returned in the seventh with a two-run homer to essentially end the game at 9-2 before the Vols’ late three-run rally.

Heading into Sunday afternoon, head coach Jim Schlossnagle has yet to announce a starting pitcher but knows that junior Chris Cortez will be a part of the rotation regardless.

“(Chris) Cortez will be a part of it, more than likely. We have to decide what to do with (Justin) Lamkin.”

“There will be guys who haven’t pitched yet that will have to give us something.”

Texas A&M will face Tennessee in Game 2 of the College World Series on Sunday, June 23 at 1:00 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC and be available for streaming on ESPN+.

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No. 3 Texas A&M begins College World Series finals with rout of SEC rival No. 1 Tennessee

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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Texas A&M’s pitching staff has been elite during the College World Series

Texas A&M’s team ERA is utterly mind-boggling ahead of facing Tennessee in the College World Series Finals

Texas A&M (52-13) is on its way to the College World Series finals, largely thanks to Justin Lamkin’s outstanding performance. The sophomore’s pitching gem, with 70 pitches in five nearly flawless innings, set a new CWS record with nine strikeouts and allowed just three hits, leading the team to a 6-0 victory over Florida on Wednesday night.

On the offensive front, the Aggies demonstrated their prowess at the plate. Junior Kaeden Kent continued his impressive postseason run with two more hits and an RBI. SEC Freshman of the Year Gavin Grahovac also made his mark with two hits and an RBI, contributing to the team’s total of six hits.

Freshman Caden Sorrell’s 6th inning homer off of star Gators closer Brandon Neely blew the game wide open, scoring two more runs before sending Florida back to Gainesville after a very impressive and admirable run.

However, it was Texas A&M’s elite pitching that sent the program to its first appearance in the title game, going 8-0 since the start of the postseason. Since reaching Omaha, the Aggies have dominated on the mound, allowing an incredible 1.00 ERA in 27 innings paired with 37 strikeouts in three wins over Florida and Kentucky.

First-year pitching coach Max Weiner deserves a lot of credit for turning things around. The Aggies have now set a program record with 680 strikeouts on the year and turned a weakness in 2023 into a predominant strength.

On paper, Tennessee is as good as it gets from an opponent’s standpoint, hitting .311 at the plate with 178 home runs and a 3.87-team ERA on the year. The best teams have made it to the final round, and we’re in for one heck of a finish.

Texas A&M will play Tennessee in Game 1 of the College World Series Finals on Saturday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

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Texas A&M pitching coach Max Weiner is a star in the making

Max Weiner has turned Texas A&M’s pitching staff into one of the best units in the country

Texas A&M (51-13) is just one win away from the College World Series title game after a series of impressive victories, including a 5-1 win over Kentucky (46-15) on Wednesday night. Like most of the Aggies’ wins this postseason, it was the performance on the mound that has kept the team undefeated this week for the first time in program history, a testament to the strategic guidance of the coaching staff.

The Aggies’ offensive firepower took a hit with star outfielder Braden Montgomery’s season-ending ankle injury. The blow was further compounded by the upper-body injury suffered by sophomore pitcher Shane Sdao in A&M’s super regional win over Oregon, which has kept him out for the rest of the postseason.

With the team facing more challenges due to the injuries, the pressure on Jim Schlossnagle to deliver increased. However, the third-year head coach has relied on the expertise of first-year pitching coach Max Weiner, who has proven to be a game-changer and the best hire the program has made during Schlossnagle’s tenure.

With Sdao’s absence, the team needed to rely on fewer arms. The combination of Ryan Prager, Chris Cortez, and senior reliever Evan Aschenbeck has been nothing short of elite.

Each player has vastly improved from last season, with Weiner’s coaching leading to notable adjustments in control, hitting the strike zone, and, most importantly, confidence after every in-game mound visit has eased the mind of every Aggie pitcher to finish out each inning.

On Monday, Prager pitched one of his best career performances, recording 20 outs and four strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one walk on 95 pitches, outright earning the Aggie’s 5-1 victory. While the redshirt sophomore’s improvement has taken center stage after missing last season with an injury, junior Chris Cortez’s ascendance as a top MLB prospect has continued to turn heads.

Entering the season with an elite arm but a blatant lack of control and a tendency for wild pitches, Cortez is now 10-3 on the year. He isn’t lacking any confidence as the Aggies’ go-to relief option, bringing a, yes, nasty quality to his sliders and fastballs that regularly top out at 100 MPH.

For star closer Evan Aschenbeck, the senior was named “Stopper of the Year” with ten saves and a 6-1 record on the season so far, coupled with 76 strikeouts and just ten walks issued, taking full advantage of Weiner’s analytic knowledge during his time with the Seattle Mariners.

Even after a shaky start to the regular season, lefty Justin Lamkin bounced back in a big way during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Florida. The sophomore struck out six batters while allowing just one hit on the night, a testament to Weiner’s late-season adjustments.

Still under 30, Weiner’s “control the zone” mantra has continued to yield results, as Texas A&M baseball’s first national title in program history while building toward his eventual head coaching career. Last but not least, Texas A&M’s team ERA has gone from 5.67 to 3.86 in just one season under Max Weiner.

Texas A&M will play the winner of Florida vs. Kentucky on Wednesday, June 19, at 6:00 p.m. CT.

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No. 3 Texas A&M holds on to beat SEC foe Florida in opening round of College World Series

After a four hour rain delay, the Aggies beat SEC rival Florida in the opening round of the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field.

After a four hour rain delay, the Texas A&M baseball team beat SEC rival Florida in the opening round of the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field.

The No. 3 Aggies (50-13) held on for a 3-2 victory versus the Gators (34-29) on Saturday night in Omaha, Nebraska. Texas A&M tallied 2 in the second inning and 1 in the third. Florida scored both of its runs in the seventh frame following two doubles.

In the bottom of the second, three consecutive Aggies reached to load the bases. Freshman outfielder Caden Sorell singled to center field, junior shortstop Ali Camarillo drew a walk and sophomore second baseman Kaeden Kent hit a single to right.

Senior OF Travis Chestnut hit a groundout to third base but the Gators were unable to make a play in time so each runner was safe, including Sorrell to plate the first run. Camarillo scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat.

After graduate student designated hitter Hayden Schott walked in the third inning, Sorrell smashed an RBI double to center to increase the advantage to 3-0.

Sophomore OF Jace LaViolette sealed the win for Texas A&M in the top of the ninth frame. With one out and the go-ahead run at the dish, Florida sophomore 2B Cade Kurland crushed a pitch to right field where the 6-foot-6 superstar reached above the fence and robbed Kurland of the homer.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Justin Lamkin got the start on the mound in place of hurt sophomore LHP Shane Sdao, who’s out for the season. Despite being inconsistent at times this year, Lamkin was lights out in the late hours of Saturday evening. He pitched the first 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing only 1 hit with 6 strikeouts on 42 pitches.

Chris Cortez (10-3) earned the win in relief. The junior RHP allowed the first two batters to reach base and quickly got out of it. He tossed 3.0 frames and allowed 4 hits, 2 runs and 1 walk with 6 Ks on 65 pitches.

Newly minted NCBWA “Stopper of the Year,” Evan Aschenbeck, pitched the final 3.0 scoreless innings after entering in the top of the seventh for Cortez. The senior lefty gave up 3 hits and 2 walks with 4 punchouts on 51 pitches. Aschenbeck got out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth frame.

Sorrell was the lone Aggie to rack up multiple hits. Chestnut, Kent, Schott and freshman third baseman Gavin Grahovac respectively recorded a hit. LaViolette drew 2 walks Saturday to set a new single-season program record for free passes with 59 thus far.

Gators junior first baseman Jac Caglianone is going to be drafted very early in the the 2024 MLB Draft next month, just like injured Texas A&M junior OF Braden Montgomery. The future Top 10 pick was 2-for-3 with 1 double and 1 walk against the Aggies.

Texas A&M plays another SEC foe, No. 2 Kentucky (46-14), on Monday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

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5 Texas A&M baseball players receive ABCA All-Region Honors with 4 on the first team

Texas A&M is rolling into the College World Series with several accolades, including five players receiving recognition from the ABCA.

The No. 3 Texas A&M baseball team is rolling into Omaha with several accolades under its belt, including five players receiving recognition from the American Baseball Coaches Association this week.

On Tuesday the the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Central All-Region Teams were revealed. The squads were chosen by ABCA members.

Senior left-handed pitcher Evan Aschenbeck, outfielders, Braden Montgomery and sophomore Jace LaViolette, and freshman third baseman Gavin Grahovac were chosen to the ABCA All-Region first team. Starting sophomore LHP Ryan Prager received a second team nod.

Five Aggies was the highest from the Central Region and tied for the most in program history with 2015.

Montgomery suffered a season-ending injury during the Super Regionals versus Oregon and is likely to be drafted in the Top 10 of the 2024 MLB Draft. Aschenbeck was recently awarded “Stopper of the Year” from the National College Baseball Writers Association.

The No. 3 Aggies (49-13) begin the College World Series versus SEC rival Florida (34-28) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

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‘Get your arm ready,’ Texas A&M coach Schlossnagle comments on Aschenbeck’s NCBWA award

“The toughest and easiest decision I ever have to make in a game is when to bring Evan in the game. He’s had a great two years for us.”

Texas A&M senior left-handed pitcher Evan Aschenbeck received the “Stopper of the Year” honor on Friday from the National College Baseball Writers Association and coach Jim Schlossnagle shared his thoughts at the award press conference.

“Not a whole lot for me to say other than the toughest and easiest decision I ever have to make in a game is when to bring Evan in the game. He’s had a great two years for us,” Schlossnagle said. “The most beautiful thing about Evan, as I’m sure can be said about any great player, is as great of players as they are, they’re even better people and come from unbelievable families. Congrats to the Aschenbeck family! The 12th Man is super proud of you.

“Get your arm ready buddy, you’re going to pitch a lot this week!”

The No. 3 Aggies (49-13) begin the College World Series versus SEC rival Florida (34-28) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

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‘Best decision that I ever made,’ Texas A&M LHP Evan Aschenbeck reacts to NCBWA honor

“I want to thank the coaches for giving me an opportunity to play for Texas A&M. It was the best decision that I ever made in my life.”

Texas A&M senior left-handed pitcher Evan Aschenbeck received the “Stopper of the Year” award on Friday from the National College Baseball Writers Association.

“Alright, I’m not too good at public speaking, but I’ll give it a go. I just wanna thank everybody that’s been a part of this,” Aschenbeck said. “I first off want to thank my teammates just because nothing is better for a pitcher than to have a great defense behind you. They just want to play their hearts out every time that we go out on the field and it makes it a whole lot easier knowing that I just need to fill up the zone and they’ll make plays behind me.

“Next, I want to thank the coaching staff for taking a chance on me and giving me an opportunity to play for Texas A&M. It was the best decision that I ever made in my life. Next is my family, just for all the support and everything. They are here today, it’s awesome to see them here and every away series so I just want to thank them.

“I can’t accept this award without my teammates and everyone that is there to support me. So thank you very much!”

The No. 3 Aggies (49-13) begin the College World Series versus SEC rival Florida (34-28) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

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Texas A&M pitcher Evan Aschenbeck earns 2024 NCBWA Stopper of the Year

Texas A&M’s star closer Evan Aschenbeck brings home the 2024 NCBWA Stopper of the Year to Aggieland

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association News (NCBWA) has spoken, and their 2024 Stopper of the Year is Texas A&M left-hander Evan Aschenbeck. He saw a major improvement across the board while some of that can be attributed to the hiring of Max Weiner, Aschenbeck still had to put in the work. Below is an excerpt from the official NCBWA website.

Aschenbeck has been instrumental in Texas A&M’s postseason run. In the College Station Regional, he allowed no runs and no hits in 4 2/3 innings, leading the Aggies to a 4-2 victory in 11 innings over Texas. He followed that performance in the College Station Super Regional with two saves, holding Oregon scoreless and hitless in 1 2/3 innings on June 8 and allowing just one run on two hits over three innings the following evening to secure Texas A&M’s eighth berth to the College World Series. Aschenbeck was also named a first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s head coaches.

SEASON STATS

  • Record – 6-1
  • Saves – 9
  • ERA – 1.66
  • Innings Pitched – 65.0
  • Strikeouts – 72
  • Walks – 8
  • Opposing Batting Average – .185

Join us in congratulating Aschenbeck in earning with 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.

Texas A&M is headed to the College World Series after defeating Oregon 15-9 in the Super Regional

Kaeden Kent saves the day after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning, sending Texas A&M to the College World Series!

In one of the craziest games of the NCAA Tournament and the college baseball season as a whole, Texas A&M took hold of momentum and never let go, defeating Oregon in Game 2 15-9 after scoring nine consecutive runs on seven walks and a Kaeden Hunt grand slam.

Trailing 8-4 heading into the seventh, Oregon pitcher Brock Moore and Jaxon Jordan couldn’t find the strike zone. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone when the Aggies’ struggles on the mound were accounted for, as the tides completely turned in their favor.

Taking a 13-8 lead into the eighth inning, the momentum swing continued as Hayden Schott hit the second two-run home run for the Aggies on the night, adding two on the board for a massive 15-9 lead, combined with the sixth solo shot from Oregon to add a run.

For one of the most patient offenses in the country, the fact that the Aggies were able to walk their way into their first lead since starting the game off at 1-0 nothing in the first isn’t surprising, but this performance was on another level. With 12 hits on the night, Kent’s grand slam was just one of three hits on the night to lead the team, producing five runs, while Hayden Schott finished with four hits and four RBI.

After starting the game in shaky territory, pitcher Shane Sdao immediately left the game after just 11 innings due to an undisclosed injury in the bottom of the first.

This led to head coach Jim Schlossnagle having to use five pitchers from the bullpen, who combined for five runs while allowing three home runs to start the game. Tanner Jones and freshman Kaeden Wilson combined for 77 pitches before A&M gained back the lead, providing Schlossnagle the relief of sending reliable closer Evan Aschenbeck out to the mound to finish things off in the eighth.

As poised and confident as ever, Aschenbeck remained (almost) flawless, recording his ninth save on the year with four strikeouts and just two hits allowed to send Texas A&M to the College World Series for the second time in two seasons.

Texas A&M will now face the Florida Gators, but the date and time are currently unspecified.

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