It felt like a sense of deja vu from their opening College World Series game against the Florida State Seminoles. Tennessee Baseball started Chris Stamos and dug an early hole. The Vols then sparked a rally late. This time, though, they couldn’t capitalize.
After falling behind 7-1 in the first three innings against the Texas A&M Aggies, UT fought back to make it 9-5. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, they put two on with one out. However, they were unable to drive in either, and as a result, they lost Game One of the CWS.
Make no mistake, UT lost it due to errors and strikeouts. They had three and 17 respectively. A throwing error in the first inning is the only reason the second of two runs during that A&M at-bat was scored. Then, in the third inning, two more A&M runs came after a throwing error.
However, Tennessee Baseball had plenty of chances to get back in the game. The problem was they couldn’t put the ball in play. Key to that was when A&M brought in middle reliever Josh Stewart. It was the bottom of the fifth, UT was down 7-2, and Blake Burke had just doubled. Then, Stewart gave up a walk.
Based on the clear scouting Tony Vitello did, with two on and no outs, the Vols easily should have scored. They clearly anticipated Stewart’s plan to rely heavily on his slider, so they didn’t take many of his pitches. The guessing game, however, went in Stewart’s favor, as he struck out the next two batters looking.
He delivered two more strikeouts over the next two innings, and although he did allow a two-run homer before being pulled, he had done enough to get Evan Aschenbeck out there with a lead. Aschenbeck did the rest, striking out seven batters over the final three innings.
With that, Tennessee Baseball is facing elimination and will have to win Saturday and Sunday to take home the national championship. The two teams face off again at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, and if UT wins, a rubber match will take place at 7 p.m. Monday for all the marbles.
