College World Series: Texas A&M uses defense to hang on for 3-2 victory against Florida

Texas A&M made it out of its first game of the College World Series with a win against Florida thanks to a solid effort from its bullpen. Evan Aschenbeck recorded the save to pitch the final 2.2 innings of a 3-2 victory, finishing with four strikeouts.

That included the game-winner in the top of the ninth as he struck out Ashton Wilson swinging. It was one of two strikeouts he had in the inning as A&M finished with 15 on the day.

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Things finally got underway at 10:15 p.m. CT after a four-hour weather delay. Following a scoreless first inning, A&M struck first in the bottom of the second with an RBI single from Travis Chestnut. A wild pitch then drove in Ali Camarillo to give the Aggies a 2-0 lead.

Texas A&M later added to its lead over Florida when Caden Sorrell hit an RBI double to center field. That caused the Gators to make a pitching change, pulling starter Liam Peterson in favor of Fisher Jamison. They played much better defensively after that, as Jamison pitched the next three innings without allowing a run.

Florida would remain scoreless through the first six innings before finally breaking through in the top of the seventh. Tyler Shelnut doubled to lead off the inning and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. That set the stage for Dale Thomas to hit a ground-rule double to left field that bounced over the fence after flying past the outstretched arm of Sorrell.

Thomas later scored to cut the lead to 3-2 off of a groundout from Michael Robertson to shortstop. Florida quickly ended things in the bottom of the inning with a double play to bring Caglianone back to the plate. Despite loading the bases, however, Florida would fail to come away with a run in the inning.

Justin Lamkin and Chris Cortez pitched the first six innings to combine for 12 strikeouts and allow just five hits. Cortez got the win after pitching 3.0 innings before giving up the first two runs of the game in the seventh.

Sorrell finished 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Aggies.

With the win, Texas A&M advances to face Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET on Monday in the winner’s bracket. Florida now moves on to play NC State in an elimination game at 2 p.m. ET on Monday.