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Texas A&M outlasts Florida in College World Series opening-round thriller

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

Texas A&M scored early and made big plays on the mound and in the field to secure a 3-2 win over Florida in the opening round of the College World Series.

For the first time in this year’s CWS, it wasn’t a walk-off. For the fourth time in as many games, the home team won in thrilling fashion. Thanks to a lengthy weather delay, the last game of the opening round was decided early Sunday morning.

In the top of the 9th inning, the tying run was aboard when Florida’s Michael Robertson managed a 1-out single to short. That brought Cade Kurland to the plate for the Gators.

On a 1-1 pitch, Kurland got a hold of it and sent it to deep right field. Kurland thought he had hit a go-ahead 2-run home run, but Jace LaViolette reached his glove out over the top of the wall to make the play of the game, recording the second out and keeping the Aggies up 3-2.

Jac Caglianone worked a 2-out walk to keep Florida’s hopes alive, reaching base as the go-ahead run. Caglianone’s walk brought three-hole hitter Ashton Wilson to the plate.

Evan Aschenbeck got Wilson swinging, the Florida outfielder’s fourth strikeout of the night. Aschenbeck finished with a line of 3 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 2 BB in his 10th save of the year.

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A&M bats strike early, Aggie pitchers contain Florida

For the second straight start, Florida’s Liam Peterson had an early exit.

Peterson worked around a 1-out walk for a scoreless 1st inning. In the 2nd inning, he ran into trouble.

Three 1-out singles, a walk and a wild pitch produced the first runs of the game, giving Texas A&M a 2-0 lead.

Peterson returned for the 3rd inning. A leadoff walk came around to score on a 1-out RBI double hit by Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M’s only extra-base hit of the night. The Aggies’ 3rd run ended Peterson’s night on the mound. He finished with a line of 2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K.

Texas A&M called on Justin Lamkin to start. Lamkin tossed 3 innings of 1-hit ball, striking out 6 over 42 pitches (28 strikes).

Up 3-0 in the 4th, Chris Cortez came on for the Aggies. Cortez allowed 2 earned runs on 4 hits, striking 6 of his 15 batters faced. He threw 65 pitches (39 for strikes).

Aschenbeck closed it out over 3 innings. He faced 14 batters, striking out 4 while walking 2 and allowing 4 hits. It was a 51-pitch outing for Aschenbeck.

In relief of Peterson, Florida’s Fisher Jameson (3 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 K), Cade Fisher (0.2 IP) and Brandon Neely (2 IP, 1 H, 3 K) kept Texas A&M from extending the lead while allowing just 2 hits, giving the Gators plenty of opportunities.

UF had 8 hits in the game. Three Gators reached on walks and 2 others were hit by pitch. At the end of the night, Florida left 10 men on base. A&M batters stranded 8 Aggies.

Aggie pitching kept the Gators fooled, as they went 3-of-17 at the plate with runners on. With runners in scoring position, UF was just 1-of-11 (.091). Wilson, the three-hole hitter, and clean-up hitter Colby Shelton were a combined 0-for-8 with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.

Both teams will be back at it on Monday. Texas A&M will face Kentucky, a walk-off winner, in the winner’s bracket game. Florida and NC State will play an elimination game.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.

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