Tennessee baseball is looking for its first National Championship in program history as it prepares to face conference foe Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
The Vols and Aggies have both been ranked in the nation’s top five since early in the conference season an are looking to conclude the season with the ultimate prize.
Here’s how to watch and everything else to know about the College World Series Final Series.
Texas A&M swept its way for the first half of 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.
Tennessee swept it way through the first half of the College World Series too. The Vols used a ninth inning comeback to defeat Florida State 12-11 in their opener before defeating North Carolina 6-1 and Florida State, again, 7-2 to advance to the finals.
Probable Pitching Matchups
*Both teams have only announced their game one starters
Game One: LHP Chris Stamos (3-0, 4.26 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 31.2 IP, 16 BB, 35 K) vs. LHP Ryan Prager (9-1, 2.88 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 93.2 IP, 118 K, 20 BB)
Game Two: RHP Drew Beam (9-2, 4.30 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 98.1 IP, 92 K, 25 BB) vs. TBD
Game Three: LHP Zander Sechrist (5-1, 3.22 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 72.2 IP, 69 K, 15 BB) vs. TBD
Everything Tony Vitello Said About The Aggies
On Texas A&M and its style of play
“As far as your one question, I think this is a series, SEC series that did not happen during the regular season, obviously. But I don’t mean to speak for anybody else. Both sides are probably pretty happy it’s at a neutral site. Their place has their own unique brand, how they do things. And you’d be remiss if you didn’t say it gets rowdy in that ballpark.
And then, I guess, you’re only as good as your last game, so to speak. That Evansville game that Zander pitched in was absolutely bananas with our fans. Maybe it’s best that it’s on a neutral site.”
On what they learned about Texas A&M by playing them in the SEC Tournament
“I was asked — I’ll lead because I was just asked that question on the radio and how much value does that game have. And unfortunately, not a whole lot because we’re, for whatever reason, able to edge them out on that particular day, but we don’t get any runs for that on the scoreboard.
And I think everyone who has ever competed in that tournament loves it. It’s hard to put into words quickly how awesome that event is and how well they do running it.
But, again, every SEC coach and player knows there’s a different vibe to each day and how you approach that tournament is unique for each team. So to recall on that game, maybe you look at some match-ups that occurred or something like that. I don’t think it carries a lot of weight.”
On Texas A&M’s pitching staff over the course of CWS
“In that particular instance, looking around the locker room, you’re looking at all kinds of guys. I’m reflecting back there — just talking about our group being good about competing against anybody. But obviously you get into match-ups with our lineup.
It’s like, man, Florida State and then Florida’s younger guys are getting more experience, which A&M shut them down. And you’ve got the most dangerous guy, him and Charlie, you know, I don’t include our players in any of that, and Cags. So they’re capable of shutting down anybody.
Then, again, you get to this point, every lineup, I feel like ours and theirs, can get you at any one spot. There’s a lot of uniqueness to each lineup, too, where there’s a variety of ways they can get you. I feel we’re included in that group.
But we’ll have to go up against Prager. It will be the second time. And he’s given a lot of people fits, either a lot of strikes out of him, but also gets guys to chase out of the zone a little bit.
At this point in our league or the ACC, too, you’ve got about as much experience as you are going to have. He’s already thrown on the mound out there.
It’s up to us to put our best foot forward or put ourselves forward and stay true to who we are. And he’ll be trying to do the same thing. Then you look at the guys who will be available afterwards — or better yet look at the way they’ve gone to the bullpen in the postseason — he’s not afraid to go to the bullpen early because he knows he’s got weapons down there.”
Bats To Know
Tennessee:
2B Christian Moore — .385/.460/.816, 33 HR, 54 EBH, 73 RBI, 36 BB, 45 K
1B Blake Burke — .382/.453/.713, 20 HR, 49 EBH, 60 RBI, 34 BB, 44 K
LF Dylan Dreiling — .329/.453/.679, 20 HR, 40 EBH, 68 RBI, 52 BB, 59 K
RF Kavares Tears — .329/.436/.672, 20 HR, 36 EBH, 61 RBI, 45 BB, 67 K
3B Billy Amick — .313/.392/.663, 23 HR, 38 EBH, 65 RBI, 27 BB, 48 K
Texas A&M:
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
C Jackson Appel — .321/.414/.513, 10 HR, 26 EBH, 40 RBI, 32 BB, 32 K, 15 SB
DH Hayden Schott — .333/.421/.502, 8 HR, 24 EBH, 61 RBI, 34 BB, 53 K
1B Ted Burton — .292/.450/.500, 9 HR, 23 EBH, 44 RBI, 50 BB, 50 K
