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Tennessee Baseball College World Series Finals Preview: A Quick Look At Texas A&M | Rocky Top Insider

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Tennessee Baseball College World Series Finals Preview: A Quick Look At Texas A&M | Rocky Top Insider

Photo via Texas A&M Baseball on X (Twitter)/ @AggieBaseball

OMAHA, Neb. — Tennessee baseball advanced to the College World Series finals for just the second time in program history in Wednesday afternoon, knocking off Florida State 7-2 at Charles Schwab Field.

Standing in the way of Tennessee and its first ever National Championship is the Texas A&M Aggies who are looking for their first ever National Championship as well.

Here’s a look at the Aggies ahead of the critical College World Series Final Series.

More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball’s Pitching Inspires Confidence Entering The College World Series

How The Aggies Got Here

Texas A&M has been one of the best teams in the country all season. The Aggies enter the final series with a 52-13 (19-11 SEC) record on the season.

Jim Schlossnagle’s third Texas A&M team earned a No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. They reached the College World Series for the eighth time in program history by sweeping through the College Station Regional with wins over Grambling, Texas and Louisiana. The Aggies took care of business the ensuing week in the College Station Super Regional, sweeping Oregon.

In the College World Series, the Aggies prevailed out of the SEC heavy side of the bracket with two wins over Florida (3-2, 6-0) bookending a 5-1 win over Kentucky.

Texas A&M’s last loss was against … Tennessee on May 23 at the SEC Tournament. Chris Stamos and AJ Causey both pitched well for the Vols while Kavares Tears and Cal Stark each hit home runs in the 7-4 win.

Some Injuries To Note

Texas A&M does have some notable injuries to touch on here. Star Braden Montgomery (.322/.454/.733) and starting pitcher Shane Sdao (5-1, 2.96 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) each suffered season ending injuries in the super regional series.

Star outfielder Jace LaViollette is also banged up but he has continued to play through a minor injury.

Team Hitting Stats

Runs: 554 (7th nationally)

Batting average: .299 (49th nationally)

Home runs: 132 (5th nationally)

Doubles: 126 (35th nationally)

Walks: 408 (1st nationally)

Bats To Know

RF Jace LaViolette — .306/.450/.734, 28 HR, 47 EBH, 77 RBI, 61 BB, 77 K

3B Gavin Grahovac — .303/.398/.601, 22 HR, 37 EBH, 64 RBI, 64 BB, 90 K

Jackson Appel — .321/.414/.513, 10 HR, 26 EBH, 40 RBI, 32 BB, 32 K, 15 SB

Hayden Schott — .333/.421/.502, 8 HR, 24 EBH, 61 RBI, 34 BB, 53 K

Ted Burton — .292/.450/.500, 9 HR, 23 EBH, 44 RBI, 50 BB, 50 K

Team Pitching Stats

Earned Run Average: 3.86 (4th nationally)

WHIP: 1.25 (4th nationally)

Strikeouts Per 9 Innings: 10.8 (8th nationally)

Pitchers To Know

LHP Ryan Pragner — 18 GS, 9-1, 2.88 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 93.2 IP, 118 K, 20 BB

  • Prager has been Texas A&M’s ace all season and with the Sdao injury he is the only true starter that Texas A&M has.
  • Prager started game two for Texas A&M in the CWS. He took a no hitter into the seventh inning against Kentucky while pitching 6.2 scoreless innings against the Wildcats.

RHP Justin Lampkin — 18 GP, 15 GS, 3-2, 5.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 63 IP, 86 K, 20 BB

  • Started both games against Florida in the College World Series.
  • 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K on 42 pitches on June 15
  • 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K on 70 pitches on June 19

LHP Evan Aschenbeck — 30 GP, 0 GS, 6-1, 10 SV, 1.54 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 70 IP, 77 K, 12 BB

  • Texas A&M’s top bullpen arm all season.
  • Pitched behind Lampkin in both CWS games against Florida.
  • 3 scoreless innings on June 15 (51 pitches) and 2 scoreless innings on June 19 (29 pitches)

RHP Chris Cortez — 24 GP, 3 GS, 10-3, 2.98 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 60.1 IP, 95 K, 32 BB

  • One of the Aggies most used and best bullpen pitchers this season.
  • Allowed 2 ER in 3IP against Florida on June 15
  • Faced two batters, walking both on 8 total pitches against Florida on June 19

RHP Josh Stewart — 23 GP, 1-2, 4.33 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 27 IP, 34 K, 6 BB

  • Role hasn’t been massive over the course of the season but pitched well in two CWS outings
  • Allowed 1 ER in 2.1 IP against Kentucky
  • Pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit against Florida on June 19
  • Tennessee rocked him for three runs in one inning at the SEC Tournament
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