How it Happened: Tennessee falls victim to big inning in 9-5 loss to Texas A&M

OMAHA, Neb. — Texas A&M powered behind a five-run third inning beat Tennessee 9-5 Saturday night in game one of the College World Series Finals from Charles Schwab Field.

The Aggies (53-13) have the opportunity to win the series – and the national championship – on Sunday afternoon with the 2 o’clock eastern time first pitch, but Texas A&M would have to do something only one team has done to the Vols (58-13) all season long – beat them twice in-a-row.

UT surrendered five runs off four hits in the disastrous third inning that allowed the Aggies to take a commanding six-run lead. Tennessee chipped away with RBI singles from Dean Curley (second) and Hunter Ensley (third), and back-to-back home runs from Dyaln Dreiling and Ensley in the seventh, but it was not enough despite the double-digit hits for the Vols in the contest.

Chris Stamos (3-1) is charged with the loss after giving up two runs in only 0.1 of an inning of work. Josh Stewart (2-2) earned the victory on the mound while tossing 2.1 innings of relief, allowing two runs off one hit. Four Vols finished the game with multiple hits on the day, but it was A&M that reached base in all but two innings of the ballgame.

The season is on the line Sunday afternoon for the Tennessee Volunteers as a snap-and-clear mentality is needed for the quick turnaround. Drew Beam is the expected starter as a win is needed to force the ‘if necessary’ Game 3 on Monday for Tennessee to have a chance at the national title.

Here’s how it all went down for Game 1 on Friday night.  

Postgame Video

Scoring Summary

Top 1: Gavin Grahovac hit a solo home run to right field. Aggies 1-0
Top 1: Caden Sorrell singled up the middle to plate a run from third. Aggies 2-0
Bot 2: Dean Curley singled to center, plating Dylan Dreiling from third. Aggies 2-1
Top 3: Hayden Schott single dup the middle to plate a run from second. Aggies 3-1
Top 3: Caden Sorrell singled in a run to right field. Aggies 4-1
Top 3: A two-base throwing error from Billy Amick allowed a runner to score. Aggies 5-1
Top 3: Kaeden Kent singled in two on a base hit to right field. Aggies 7-1
Bot 3: Hunter Ensley singled in Blake Burke on a drive to left. Aggies 7-2
Top 7: Kaeden Kent smacked a two-run home run to right field. Aggies 9-2
Bot 7: Dylan Dreiling hammered a two-run homer to right field. Aggies 9-4

Dylan dials long distance to get two runs back.

Pitching change coming for the Aggies.

📺 https://t.co/3WxxhYjcwY (ESPN)#GBO // #OTH // #MCWS // #BeatTAMU pic.twitter.com/X04ZLx9eKn

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) June 23, 2024

Bot 7: Hunter Ensley registered a solo home run to left field. Aggies 9-5

The Final Stats

2024 College World Series Bracket

2024 College World Series Results

Friday, June 14
North Carolina 3, Virginia 2 | Final Stats
Tennessee 12, Florida State 11 | Final Stats

Saturday, June 15
Kentucky 5, NC State 4 (10 inn) | Final Stats
Texas A&M 3, Florida 2 | Final Stats

Sunday, June 16
Florida State 7, Virginia 3 | Final Stats | Elimination Game
Tennessee 6, North Carolina 1| Final Stats

Monday, June 17
Florida 5, NC State 4 | Final Stats | Elimination Game
Texas A&M 5, Kentucky 1 | Final Stats

Tuesday, June 18
Florida State 5, North Carolina 1 | Final Stats | Elimination Game
Florida vs. Kentucky | Postponed (Rain)

Wednesday, June 19
Florida 15, Kentucky 4 | Final Stats | Kentucky Eliminated
Tennessee 7, Florida State 2 | Final Stats | FSU Eliminated
Texas A&M 6, Florida 0 | Final Stats | ESPN | Florida Eliminated

Saturday, June 22
Texas A&M 9, Tennessee 5 | Final Stats

Sunday, June 23
Tennessee vs. Texas A&M | 2 pm ET

Monday, June 24 (if necessary)
Texas A&M vs. Tennessee | 7 pm ET