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Published Jun 24, 2024
CWS Game 3 preview
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Mark Passwaters  •  AggieYell
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Here's a look at the Game 3 matchup between No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 1 Tennessee (6 p.m. central, ESPN):

Texas A&M (53-14)

3B Gavin Grahovac; .296, 23 HR, 65 RBI, 986 OPS; SEC Freshman of the Year

RF Jace LaViolette; .307, 29 HR, 78 RBI, 1.189 OPS; first team All-SEC, All-American

C Jackson Appel; .325, 10 HR, 40 RBI, .951 OPS; First team All-SEC, All-American

DH Hayden Schott; .329, 8 HR, 62 RBI, .911 OPS

1B Ted Burton; .289, 9 HR, 44 RBI, .931 OPS

LF Caden Sorrell; .275, 11 HR, 42 RBI, .927 OPS

SS Ali Camarillo; .289, 7 HR, 36 RBI, .820 OPS

2B Kaeden Kent; .330, 4 HR, 28 RBI, .919 OPS

CF Travis Chestnut; .257, 3 HR, 13 RBI, .851 OPS

Getting the start:

LHP Justin Lamkin; 3-2, 5.00 ERA, 63 IP, 59 H, 20 BB, 86 K

In the bullpen:

LHP Evan Aschenbeck; 6-1, 1.54 ERA, 10 saves, 70 IP, 47 H, 12 BB, 77 K; first team All-SEC, All-American, Stopper of the Year

RHP Chris Cortez; 10-3, 2.98 ERA, 60.1 IP, 41 H, 32 BB, 95 K

RHP Zane Badmaev; 3-0, 2.70 ERA, 23.1 IP, 16 H, 5 BB, 27 K

RHP Brad Rudis; 6-0, 2.29 ERA, 35.1 IP, 34 H, 12 BB, 35 K

RHP Brock Peery; 2-1, 3.60 ERA, 20 IP, 6 H, 17 BB, 22 K

RHP Josh Stewart; 1-2, 4.33 ERA, 27 IP, 28H, 6 BB, 34 K

A&M by the numbers:

Batting average: .299 (51st nationally)

Home runs: 136 (5th nationally)

Runs: 570 (7th nationally)

Walks: 416 (1st nationally)

Scoring: 8.6 runs per game (18th nationally)

Shutouts: 12 (1st nationally)

Strikeout to walk percentage: 3.30 (4th nationally)

Strikeouts per 9 innings: 10.9 (7th nationally)

Walks allowed per 9 innings: 3.30 (12th nationally)

ERA: 3.82 (3rd nationally)

The Aggies come into this one with virtually every bullet in their bullpen chamber available with the exception of Chris Cortez, who threw 99 pitches yesterday. That includes Saturday night starter Ryan Prager, if only for a few outs. Relievers Josh Stewart and Evan Aschenbeck, who pitched well in Game 1, will be ready to go.

The only question is whether the Aggies decide to make a move for potentially more offense and put Ryan Targac in the lineup and shuffling the rest of the lineup defensively.

Lamkin is coming off of the two best starts of his season (and likely his career), giving up a combined 4 hits, a walk and 15 strikeouts in 8 shutout innings against Florida. The pressure is ratcheted up much higher now, and the Aggies need him to be up to the challenge. If the Aggies can get to Aschenbeck with the lead, they'll be in great shape.

Tennessee (58-13)

2B Christian Moore; .373, 33 HR, 73 RBI, 1.252 OPS; First team All-SEC, All-American

1B Blake Burke; .377, 20 HR, 61 RBI, 1.149 OPS; Second team All-SEC; All-American

3B Billy Amick; .307, 23 HR, 65 RBI, 1.034 OPS

LF Dylan Dreiling; .336, 22 HR, 72 RBI, 1.152 OPS; First team All-SEC

CF Hunter Ensley; .292, 12 HR, 48 RBI, .922 OPS

RF Kavares Tears; .321, 20 HR, 61 RBI, 1.068 OPS; Second team All-SEC

SS Dean Curley; .277, 12 HR, 49 RBI, .882 OPS

DH Reese Chapman; .276, 7 HR, 31 RBI, .926 OPS

C Cal Stark; .209, 11 HR, 30 RBI, .865 OPS

Getting the start:

LHP Zander Sechrist; 5-1, 3.22 ERA, 72.2 IP, 70 H, 15 BB, 69 K

Tennessee by the numbers:

Batting average: .311 (17th nationally)

Home runs: 180 (1st nationally)

Runs: 647 (1st nationally)

Walks: 374 (7th nationally)

Scoring: 9.1 runs per game (8th nationally)

Shutouts: 4 (25th nationally)

Strikeout to walk percentage: 3.30 (3rd nationally)

Strikeouts per 9 innings: 10 (23rd nationally)

Walks allowed per 9 innings: 3.04 (5th nationally)

ERA: 3.92 (6th nationally)

Sechrist has been excellent in his last two starts against Evansville and Florida State, so he's a formidable opponent. Tennessee has worked their bullpen harder than A&M has, but everyone should largely be available (with AJ Causey probably not an option except for a couple of outs). There's a question about Moore's availability after his injury yesterday, but right now, that's all conjecture.

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