Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The College World Series between No. 1 Tennessee and Texas A&M began Saturday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
As the Aggies and Vols each search for their first national championship in their respective program’s histories, Texas A&M got one step closer with a 9-5 win.
Texas A&M Baseball @AggieBaseball
Game one belongs to the Ags👍#GigEm x #MCWS pic.twitter.com/RofDmTY2Lt
Tennessee boasts one of the most dominant offenses in college baseball this season—and arguably one of the best ever—but it was the Aggies who were producing runs on Saturday.
Texas A&M opened the game with a leadoff opposite-field home run from Gavin Grahovac, quickly setting the tone for the night.
Texas A&M Baseball @AggieBaseball
OPPO 🌮 TO LEADOFF THE FINALS#GigEm x @GavinGrahovac x #MCWS pic.twitter.com/Lc5jHjrTUk
Texas A&M added another run after an RBI single from Caden Sorrell before starting pitcher Ryan Prager shut the Vols down in order in the bottom of the first.
Tennessee pitcher AJ Causey, who relieved Chris Stamos in the first inning, put the Aggies down in order in the second inning, paving the way for Tennessee to get its first run of the night on an RBI single from Dean Curley.
But Texas A&M quickly got back that run and more in the third inning, posting a five-spot to make it a 7-1 game.
Texas A&M Baseball @AggieBaseball
5⃣ gets the run back#GigEm x @SchottHayden x #MCWS pic.twitter.com/OEgvjvoFBu
Texas A&M Baseball @AggieBaseball
Stay 🔥🔥🔥 3⃣#GigEm x #MCWS pic.twitter.com/uzVOFfm2BY
An error from Tennessee and a slew of hits from the Aggies gave them a comfortable lead heading into the bottom of the fourth, where the Vols managed to get just one run across on an RBI single from Hunter Ensley.
Tennessee Baseball @Vol_Baseball
Second knock of the night for Hunter. Just gotta chip away.
📺 https://t.co/3WxxhYjKmw (ESPN)#GBO // #OTH // #MCWS // #BeatTAMU pic.twitter.com/7keVU2v7sP
After a few scoreless innings, Texas A&M did more damage in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer from Kaeden Kent to give the Aggies a 9-2 lead.
Texas A&M Baseball @AggieBaseball
THE LEGEND OF KAEDEN KENT CONTINUES!! 💥#GigEm x #MCWS pic.twitter.com/4qiWnOMy3r
But Tennessee showed some life in the bottom of the seventh after Dylan Dreiling hit a two-run home run and Ensley followed it up with a solo shot to make it a much more manageable 9-5 game.
Tennessee Baseball @Vol_Baseball
Dylan dials long distance to get two runs back.
Pitching change coming for the Aggies.
📺 https://t.co/3WxxhYjcwY (ESPN)#GBO // #OTH // #MCWS // #BeatTAMU pic.twitter.com/X04ZLx9eKn
NCAA Baseball @NCAABaseball
As @djkhaled would say, Another one @HunterEnsley#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @Vol_Baseball pic.twitter.com/nEKQixN8b5
Those runs in the seventh were the last the Vols could muster, though, and they came up short of completing the comeback. Relief pitcher Evan Aschenbeck came in for Texas A&M in the bottom seventh and produced seven strikeouts to hold off the comeback.
It was an uncharacteristic game from Tennessee with a handful of errors on defense and a somewhat slow night on offense. Star veterans Blake Burke and Christian Moore were quiet in the loss, and the Vols will need them to step up in Game 2.
Texas A&M flexed its offensive muscle early on Saturday, and it will need to continue to do so on Sunday to keep up with the Vols’ high-powered offense.
The Aggies now lead the best-of-three series 1-0, but Tennessee will likely come out fired up on Sunday looking to avoid elimination.
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