Drew Beam on Tennessee baseball reaching College World Series final
Tennessee baseball beat Florida State 7-2 on Wednesday to advance to the College World Series final for the second time in program history.
After more than 100 games in the NCAA baseball tournament and more than a week at the College World Series in Nebraska, there are two teams left standing. And it’s no surprise it’s two teams from the SEC, the conference that has won the last four titles and had seven of the eight appearances in the final best-of-three round during that span.
What’s unique, however, is that both Tennessee and Texas A&M are novices. The Volunteers have only been in this position once ‒ when they lost to Oklahoma in 1951. The Aggies have never been here, meaning one will wear the crown for the first time.
Tennessee is also looking to make additional history by being the first No. 1 overall seed in the tournament to win the title since Miami (Fla.) in 1999. The Volunteers will rely on their offense, which leads the nation at 9.2 runs per game and boasts a lineup featuring five players with at least 20 home runs.
Texas A&M is the only team in the tournament without a loss with eight wins through the regional, super regional and CWS rounds. The Aggies’ hopes rest with a pitching staff that ranks third in ERA (3.80) and boasts ace Ryan Prager and reliever Evan Aschenbeck, who leads the nation in ERA (1.54) and has contributed 10 saves over 70 innings of work.
Follow along for updates and analysis from Game 1:
It was messy, but for the first time tonight, Texas A&M was unable to score in an odd-numbered inning.
There were a lot of oddities in this inning. Ali Camarillo tried to catch Kirby Connell sleeping and wound up getting picked off. Travis Chestnut singled immediately afterwards, and the ball was bobbled in right by Reese Chapman, putting runners on second and third with two outs for Gavin Grahovac.
Sophomore Marcus Phillips would enter the game out of the bullpen and strike Grahovac out.
Texas A&M starter Ryan Prager continued his strong outing with a solid fourth inning.
Despite surrendering a leadoff single, Prager bounced back with a sac bunt, strikeout and groundout to first base to close out the inning.
After Causey earned two outs to lead off the top of the fourth, Hayden Schott reached base for the third time this game with a double to right center. Ted Burton followed that up with a hard shot into right center that surely would’ve scored Schott if not for Tennessee center fielder Kavares Tears laying out on the warning track to make the catch.
Texas A&M’s lead remains at 7-2 through the top of the fourth.
Hits from Blake Burke, Dylan Dreiling and Hunter Ensley helped Tennessee get a run back. However, the Volunteers were unable to secure any more and trail 7-2.
Prager only allowed two hits in 6.2 innings in his last outing against Tennessee. Through three innings, he has now surrendered six to Tennessee. Of course, it hasn’t mattered much with A&M putting up seven runs to back him up, but it could be something to keep an eye on as the game progresses. A&M’s stud lefty is sitting at 58 pitches through three with five strikeouts.
After Jace LaViolette took an eight-pitch walk, Jackson Appel smashed a single off Causey’s foot, putting two men on with no outs. Hayden Schott followed with a single to center field, driving in LaViolette.
The Aggies followed with a sac bunt from Ted Burton. Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke read the bunt perfectly and threw out Appel at home.
Texas A&M got that run back one batter later with an RBI single from Cade Sorrell. The Aggies weren’t done. Camarillo chopped a soft ground ball and Tennessee third baseman Billy Amick threw wildly to first, allowing Burton to score from second and advancing Camarillo and Sorrell to second and third. Kaeden Kent then singled to center, scoring both.
Travis Chestnut followed with a sacrifice bunt and Gavin Grahovac grounded out to second, but the damage had been done. Five runs for the Aggies, who lead 7-1.
The Volunteers led off the second inning with a pair of singles, putting runners at the corners. Following a foul out, Dean Curley drove in Dylan Dreiling with a single to center field.
With runners on first and second, Reese Chapman flew out to left field and Cal Stark, still hitless in the College World Series, lined out to first base. Through two innings, Texas A&M leads 2-1.
A.J. Causey answered Prager’s strong first with a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Causey struck out both Kaeden Kent and Travis Chestnut to lead off the inning. Despite falling behind 3-1 to Gavin Grahovac, Causey forced a soft groundout back to the mound.
The Volunteers were looking to answer Texas A&M’s big first with a few runs of their own, but Aggies starter Ryan Prager, fresh off 6 2/3 scoreless innings against Kentucky five days ago, didn’t let that happen.
Prager got Christian Moore to pop out to short. Blake Burke went down looking in six pitches. Then, on a 3-2 count, Prager got Billy Amick to swing through a slider.
After one, Texas A&M leads 2-0.
The Aggies stayed hot after Grahovac’s home run. Jackson Appel hit a double down the third-base line, and an error by Tennessee shortstop Dean Curley put runners on first and third with just one out. This forced Volunteers starter Stamos out of the game.
Junior A.J. Causey entered in relief and promptly struck out Ted Burton on a nasty sinker inside. With two outs, Aggies left fielder Caden Sorrell drilled a single up the middle to drive in Appel for their second run of the first inning. Sorrell stole second just three pitches later to put two men in scoring position for Ali Camarillo. Camarillo struck out swinging, stranding both runners.
The Aggies end the first with two runs on three hits and lead 2-0.
The 2024 College World Series got off with a bang as Texas A&M’s Gavin Grahovac hit a leadoff home run off Tennessee southpaw Chris Stamos. Stamos got ahead in the count early, up 0-2 to Grahovac, but the Aggies’ third baseman got ahold of one and sent it into the right-field bleachers for his 23rd home run of the year season. A&M leads 1-0 early.
When: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, fuboTV, YouTube TV
The cheapest seats to Game 1 were nearly $300, while the most expensive seats cost $3,000.
Tickets to Game 2 were even more expensive in some areas. Front-row seats behind home plate for Sunday’s game will cost $4,580. The cheaper seats were a little more affordable, at just $189 for a pair of seats.
Mike Wilson, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee 8, Texas A&M 6
Wilson writes, “The Vols have that feeling of being an unstoppable force since the ninth inning against Florida State in their CWS opener. That isn’t stopping now in the finals.”
David Eckert, Clarion Ledger: Tennessee over Texas A&M
Eckert writes, “With Shane Sdao and Braden Montgomery both set to miss out for the Aggies, I’m swapping my national championship pick to the Vols.”
Texas A&M’s depleted outfield faces a question about the status of standout Jace LaViolette, who injured his hamstring in Monday’s game against Kentucky when he was running from first to third on a double. LaViolette, who leads the team with 28 home runs and is second with 77 RBI, played Wednesday before being removed late. His ability to play at full strength is critical with star center fielder Braden Montgomery sidelined after a season-ending lower-leg injury in the super regional against Oregon. Montgomery tops all Aggies players with 85 RBI and also is second in home runs with 27.
During the SEC tournament, the Volunteers beat the Aggies 7-4, en route to the SEC title. Tennessee has won four of the last five games between the schools, dating to March 24, 2023. Texas A&M’s lone win in that stretch was a 3-0 victory on May 23, 2023.
Christian Moore might be crazy.
The Tennessee baseball second baseman has pondered the possibility before. He leans forward in a tall green leather chair on the second floor of the Omaha Marriott Downtown and puts his forearms on the table.
He is pondering it again.
“I don’t know if it’s because I play for Tony Vitello and he’s embedded that in my head or if it’s God’s gift or I’m just that competitive and I’m a lunatic,” Moore said this week. “But I just hate being mediocre.”
Crazy or not, everything Moore is has brought him to this stage in the College World Series. His unstoppable quest for greatness — and to be the greatest — has culminated with the best offensive single-season in Tennessee history and the cusp of the program’s first national championship.
Read more from Knoxville’s Mike Wilson here.
Tennessee is favored to win Saturday’s game, according to the BetMGM college baseball odds, and is also favored to win the series overalll. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering 2024 sports betting promos.
Game 1 odds listed as of Friday afternoon:
- Moneyline: Tennessee (-185); Texas A&M (+140)
- Odds to win title: Tennessee (-200); Texas A&M (+160)
Saturday
Game 1: Tennessee (58-12) vs. Texas A&M (52-13), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sunday
Game 2: Tennessee (58-12) vs. Texas A&M (52-13), 2 p.m., ESPN
Monday (if necessary)
Game 3: Tennessee (58-12) vs. Texas A&M (52-13), if necessary, 7 p.m., ESPN
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Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
