Jim Schlossnagle ahead of Game 3 in CWS championship series: 'Our guys are confident'

Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle isn’t allowing one loss to deter his team. After the Aggies’ Game 2 loss to Tennessee in the College World Series championship, Schlossnagle revealed his team’s confidence heading into the series-deciding Game 3.

“We had some momentum going there, but how that affects tomorrow, I don’t know,” Schlossnagle said. “Just like if you get your doors blown in in a game, I don’t think it hurts you for the next day. But we brought the tying run to home plate. Targo put a good swing on it. Didn’t get out. On a different day maybe it gets out.

Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!

“Tomorrow, I think the wind is blowing in a lot so that will play a role in the game. Our guys are confident. We get to play the last game of the season. And that’s awesome.”

Texas A&M was three innings away from securing its first national title in program history. The Aggies took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning. However, Tennessee found a pair of two-run homers in the final three innings to force Game 3.

After several lackluster innings, Texas A&M narrowly squashed Tennessee’s efforts in the bottom of the ninth. With their backs against the wall, the Aggies put two players on base. However, senior Ryan Targac failed to drive the runs in, instead hitting a pop fly just shy of the right field fence.

Despite the disappointing finish, Texas A&M hasn’t lost an ounce of faith. Aggies outfielder Jace LaViolette echoed Jim Schlossnagle’s confidence after the game.

“This is the most comfortable we felt playing baseball in a while. I have full faith in this team,” LaViolette said after the loss. “Every single person on this team has full faith in ourselves. I mean, at the end of the day, it’s another baseball game. Like, elimination or not, we always put our pants on the same, we all do the things the same.

“It’s about who can settle in first and the quickest. And, at the end of the day, it’s baseball and we get to play tomorrow. As Coach said, we don’t have to. It’s a blessing to wake up and be able to play this game. Obviously, it sucks that we lost today but at the end of the day, I get to wake up tomorrow and play the game I love. It’s a blessing.”

On Monday, Texas A&M and Tennessee will clash in a series-deciding Game 3 at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.