Aggies' run ends in final game of CWS
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OMAHA, NEB. -- Texas A&M's outstanding season and odds-defying run to the finals of the College World Series ended Monday night with the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers barely holding off the Aggies 6-5.
In spite of season-ending injuries to All-American outfielder Braden Montgomery and number two starter Shane Sdao -- to say nothing of nagging injuries to designated hitter Hayden Schott, outfielder Jace LaViolette and catcher Jackson Appel -- the No. 3 Aggies (53-15) ran a 10-game winning streak to within a game -- and two runs -- of a national title.
But Tennessee (60-13)'s powerful offense and solid pitching were enough as A&M came up just short.
"(It was a) great series," coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "Same number of hits. Same number of errors. Probably the difference in the ball game was timely hits and some of their hits were homers and ours weren't."
Starter Justin Lamkin (3-2), who had been dominant in his first two starts in Omaha, left a 1-2 pitch up to All-American second baseman Christian Moore to start the bottom of first, and Moore deposited it in the left field bullpen to give Tennessee an immediate 1-0 lead.
Lamkin limited the damage and worked through the second without incident, which allowed the Aggies to rally in the top of the third. Centerfielder Travis Chestnut laid down a perfect bunt on a 1-2 pitch, which Tennessee catcher Cal Stark threw wildly past first for an error. Chestnut took second on the miscue, then stole third easily. He scored when third baseman Gavin Grahovac singled down the left field line. But even though the Aggies had two on with just one out, they didn't add to their run total.
Tennessee did in the bottom of the third, scoring twice. First baseman Blake Burke started the inning with a double, then advanced to third on a groundout. Left fielder Dylan Dreiling drove him in with a sacrifice fly, but two straight singles knocked Lamkin out and brought on reliever Josh Stewart. The first batter he faced, shortstop Dean Curley, knocked in centerfielder Hunter Ensley before being caught between first and second for the final out.
Stewart would work 2 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and no runs.
"I thought Lamkin did a nice job and Stewart. Those guys gave us a lot of great outings this week," Schlossnagle said.
The score would remain 3-1 until the bottom of the seventh, when closer Evan Aschenbeck, who had been flawless in Omaha up until this point, gave up three runs. A two-run homer by Dreiling put Tennessee up 5-1, and a remarkable slide by Ensley on a double by right fielder Kavares Tears avoided Aggie catcher Jackson Appel to make it 6-1.
At the time, it looked like the Vols were simply pouring it on. But the Aggies would rue the missed tag as they mounted a furious rally.
"The belief was there. The belief of course was there," Schott said. "I mean, there's no panic."
A inning-starting single by Appel chased normal Tennessee closer Nate Snead, who had entered after starter Zander Sechrist was pulled after 5 1/3 innings. Lefthander Dylan Loy promptly threw two wild pitches to advance Appel to third. He was driven in on an RBI single by Schott, who himself scored on a double to left-center by outfielder Caden Sorrell one out later.
After Aschenbeck worked a quick bottom of the eighth, the Aggies made a final run at Tennessee and destiny. Grahovac led off with a double down the left field line, but outfielder Jace LaViolette struck out after a poor call by home plate umpire Grady Smith put reliever Aaron Combs, who came in to start the ninth, ahead 1-2 in the count.
Appel then added another single, driving in Grahovac and cutting the Tennessee lead to 6-4. After Appel took second on defensive indifference, he was balked to third. Schott would strike out, but Appel would score on a wild pitch to make it 6-5. First baseman Ted Burton, who was robbed of several extra-base hits during the College World Series, then struck out to end it.
In spite of the outcome, Schlossnagle said he was proud of his team and to be part of the 12th Man.
"This is an incredible team. And it's not just because of its record, but because of their character, how fun they are to be around," he said. "I think the interaction between our team and the 12th Man was just unique."