#1 Vols Can't Overcome Early Deficit in Loss to #3 Aggies in Game 1 of MCWS Final

Saturday, June 22

Omaha, Neb.

7:30 PM

University of Tennessee

58-13

Texas A&M

53-13

Texas A&M

Tennessee

#1 Vols Can't Overcome Early Deficit in Loss to #3 Aggies in Game 1 of MCWS Final

June 22, 2024 | Baseball

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OMAHA, Neb. – No. 1/1 Tennessee was unable to dig themselves out of an early hole in game one of the Men's College World Series finals, falling 9-5 to No. 3/4 Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field on Saturday night.

The Aggies struck for two quick runs in the top of the first inning, including a leadoff homer from Gavin Grahovac, and added scored five more times in the top of the third to build an early 7-1 lead.

Despite scoring one run each in the second and third innings, the Vols also left four on base in those two frames with a chance to cut into the deficit even more.

Texas A&M (53-13) added two more runs in the top of the seventh on a home run from Kaeden Kent to extend its lead to 9-2.

UT (58-13) responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back home runs from Dylan Dreiling and Hunter Ensley to narrow the gap to four runs, but that was as close as the Big Orange would get.

Aggies' reliever Evan Ashenbeck finished the game with 2.2 scoreless innings, recording seven of his eight outs via strikeout. Tennessee threatened in the ninth, getting a pair of hits from Billy Amick and Dreiling, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.

The duo of Dreiling and Ensley led the Vols at the plate, combining for seven of the team's 12 hits and four RBIs. Dreiling tied a career high with four hits for the second time during this MCWS run, finishing the night 4-for-5 with two RBIs.

Ensley also drove in a pair of runs and went 3-for-5 with a solo shot to left field in UT's three-run seventh inning.

Chris Stamos was stuck with the loss despite allowing just one earned run. The lefty got the start but made it through just 0.1 innings before being replaced by AJ Causey.

UT's bullpen was able to keep it within striking distance after the rocky first three innings as the trio of Kirby Connell, Marcus Phillips and Dylan Loy combined for 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Loy was especially impressive, holding Texas A&M hitless over the final two innings while recording three strikeouts.

STAT OF THE GAME: Prior to this year's College World Series, Dylan Dreiling had never recorded more than three hits in a game. The sophomore outfielder has now done it twice in the last four games and leads the team with a .588 batting average, 10 hits and six RBIs in Omaha.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will now have to fight off elimination in game two of the series, which is slated for a 2 p.m. ET start on ABC. The Vols must win to force a winner-take-all game three between the two teams on Monday night.