Tennessee Baseball vs. Texas A&M in College World Series final: How to watch, preview

Tennessee also prevailed in the first half of the College World Series. The Vols used a ninth-inning comeback to defeat Florida State 12-11 in their opening game before defeating North Carolina 6-1 and Florida State again 7-2 to advance to the finals.

Probable pitching matchups

*Both teams have just announced their starters for the first game

Game One: LHP Chris Stamos (3-0, 4.26 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 31.2 IP, 16 BB, 35 K) vs. LHP Ryan Prager (9-1, 2.88 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 93.2 IP, 118 K, 20 BB)

Game two: RHP Drew Beam (9-2, 4.30 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 98.1 IP, 92 K, 25 BB) vs. TBD

Game three: LHP Zander Sechrist (5-1, 3.22 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 72.2 IP, 69 K, 15 BB) vs. TBD

Everything Tony Vitello said about the Aggies

About Texas A&M and its playing style

“As for your question, I think this is a series, an SEC series, that obviously didn’t happen during the regular season. But I don’t want to speak for anyone else here. Both sides are probably pretty happy that the game is at a neutral site. Their place has its own unique brand, its own way of doing things. And you’d be remiss if you didn’t say that things are wild in that stadium.

And then I guess you’re only as good as your last game, so to speak. The game in Evansville, which Zander played in, was absolutely crazy with our fans. Maybe it’s best if it’s on neutral ground.”

What they learned about themselves from playing against Texas A&M in the SEC tournament

“I was asked – I’m going to take the lead because I was just asked that question on the radio and how much value this game has. And unfortunately not very much because for some reason we beat them narrowly that day but didn’t get any points on the scoreboard.

And I think everyone who has ever participated in this tournament loves it. It’s hard to put into words how great this event is and how well it is organized.

But every SEC coach and player knows that every day is a different atmosphere and every team approaches the tournament differently. To remember this game, you might watch a couple of matchups or something like that. I don’t think that carries a lot of weight.”

About Texas A&M’s pitching team during the CWS

“If you look around the locker room in this particular case, you see all kinds of guys. I think back – I’m talking about how our group is good at competing against anyone. But of course there are going to be battles with our lineup.

It’s, man, Florida State and then Florida’s younger players are getting more experience, which A&M is going to knock them out. And you’ve got the most dangerous guy, him and Charlie, you know, I’m not including our players there, and Cags. So they’re capable of taking anybody out.

Then you get to that point again where any lineup, I think both ours and theirs, can catch you anywhere. Every lineup is also very unique and there are a variety of ways they can catch you. I think we’re in that group.

But we have to face Prager. It will be the second time. And he has put a lot of people under pressure, either with a lot of strikes, but he also makes guys chase out of the zone a little bit.

At this point in our league, or even in the ACC, you’re about as experienced as you’re going to have. He’s already thrown out there on the mound.

It’s up to us to do our best or put ourselves first and stay true to ourselves. And he’s going to try to do the same. Then you look at the guys that are going to be available after that — or better yet, you look at how they’ve gone to the bullpen in the postseason — he’s not afraid to go to the bullpen early because he knows he’s got weapons down there.”

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