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2024 College World Series live updates: Jace LaViolette homers, Texas A&M leads Tennessee

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2024 College World Series live updates: Jace LaViolette homers, Texas A&M leads Tennessee

Texas A&M, a school that can trace the start of its baseball program back to the 19th century, had never played in the Men’s College World Series Finals until this year. Now, the Aggies are one win away from winning the first baseball title in program history.

Texas A&M defeated the Tennessee Volunteers, 9-5, in Game 1. The Vols, who are another team with roots that reach to the 19th century, will need to win two games in a row to secure their first baseball national championship after previously finishing as runners-up in 1951.

After a big first game from the Aggies, Game 2 of the CWS Finals will either see this year’s national champion crowned or prolong the series to Monday with a winner-takes-all Game 3.

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Here’s everything to know about Game 2 of the 2024 Men’s College World Series Finals.

The 2000 National League MVP is in Omaha to support his son, Texas A&M second baseman Kaeden Kent. After Beam picked off Kaeden in the third inning, the ESPN cameras caught the elder Kent’s reaction.

The Tennessee pitcher tacked on a sixth and seventh strikeout of the game in the bottom of the third inning. He has struck out five of the last six Aggies batters and has faced one batter over the minimum through three.

After allowing his second baserunner of the game, Beam picks off Kent to get the first out in the bottom of the third inning.

After allowing a walk to begin the inning, Cortez book-ended a groundout with two strikeouts to get through a second scoreless inning in relief.

Tennessee native, country singer and former high school baseball player Morgan Wallen is at Charles Schwab Field to support the Volunteers in Game 2.

Beam has struck out six of the seven batters he’s faced through two innings of work. The lone exception? LaViolette, whose solo home run gave Texas A&M the only run of the game thus far.

Cortez induces a groundout to second base from Moore to get out of the inning with Texas A&M’s 1-0 lead still intact.

A throwing error by Texas A&M shortstop Ali Camarillo gives the Vols bases loaded for leadoff batter Christian Moore with two outs in the top of the second.

Badmaev allows a leadoff single for the second straight inning, and Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle makes a call to the bullpen. Cortez enters with a runner on first and no outs in the top of the second inning.

Tennessee RHP Drew Beam strikes out three in the bottom of the first but concedes the game’s first run on a home run from Jace LaViolette.

Two batters into the bottom of the first inning, Texas A&M has the lead, 1-0, after Jace LaViolette hits his 29th home run of the year. It is also the 50th of LaViolette’s career, bringing him within six of the program record.

After allowing a single to Tennessee leadoff batter Christian Moore, Texas A&M RHP Zane Badmaev induces a flyout and gets back-to-back strikeouts to keep his sheet clean through one inning.

After a leadoff single, Moore took second base two batters later to swipe his fifth bag of the season.

Tennessee vs. Texas A&M: TV, time, streaming and how to watch

  • Date: Sunday, June 23
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET
  • Cable TV: ABC
  • Streaming: ESPN+; YouTube TV; fuboTV

Prices for two tickets for Sunday’s game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha range from $171 to over $1,000 each before fees on StubHub.

The Volunteers are favored to win Sunday’s game, according to the BetMGM college baseball odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering 2024 sports betting promos.

Odds listed as of Sunday.

  • Spread: Tennessee (-2.5)
  • Moneyline: Tennessee (-225); Texas A&M (+170)
  • O/U: 11.5

The Oklahoma Sooners won their fourth straight Women’s College World Series with two straight wins over the Texas Longhorns in the finals.

The Sooners are now tied with Arizona for the second-most WCWS titles with eight total. Only UCLA (13) has more.

Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee 6, Texas A&M 4

Mike Wilson writes: “This pick is based on who [Tennessee RHP Drew] Beam has been in his career in clutch moments and how well he pitched against North Carolina.

Action Network: Tennessee to win the series, and take the Game 2 over

Collin Wilson writes: “The opening number of -210 on the Volunteers is too inflated, making the series price the better investment. The total projects at 13.1, as the gratuitous offensive winds from Saturday night turn into a 10 mph breeze from right field on Sunday afternoon. Considering these two offenses have been capable of putting up multiple runs per inning, look for the winning team to put some runs on the board.”

Sports Betting Dime: Lay the points for Tennessee and take the over

Sascha Paruk writes: “As long as the defense plays up to par – which is a big if – the Vols should answer back with a decisive victory on Sunday.”

Men’s College World Series Finals

  • Game 1: Texas A&M 9, Tennessee 5
  • Game 2: Sunday, June 23, 2 p.m. ET
  • Game 3 (if necessary): Monday, June 24, 7 p.m. ET
  • Sophomore outfielder Jace LaViolette has 28 home runs this year to lead the Aggies after following up his 21-homer freshman year. The 20 year old is slashing .302/.446/.722 this season so far and is just eight home runs away from breaking Texas A&M’s career program record.
  • Sophomore second baseman Kaeden Kent, son of former major leaguer Jeff Kent, knocked in four RBIs – including a two-run home run – in Game 1 on Saturday night. He’s batting .500 since play began in Omaha with seven RBIs, a home run and a double.
  • Second baseman Christian Moore leads the Vols with 33 home runs. He has a .421 average in the College World Series and opened play in Omaha hitting for the cycle against Florida State.
  • RHP Drew Beam will make the start on Sunday for the Vols. In his last outing against North Carolina, he threw five innings with seven strikeouts and one run allowed.

Texas A&M’s road to get to this point seems less dramatic than Tennessee’s, at least on paper. The Aggies have not lost a game since the start of the postseason tournament. But the No. 3 national seed came close to a loss in their regional matchup with Texas – scoring the game-tying run on a throwing error in the eighth winning before winning in 11 innings.

After it took both games over Oregon in the super regional, the Aggies again narrowly avoided a potential loss to start the College World Series. Right fielder Jace LaViolette robbed Florida’s Cade Kurland of a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to preserve Texas A&M’s 3-2 lead. The team held on to win and won every game after to reach the CWS Finals.

Now, the Aggies are one win away from their first national title in program history.

Tennessee were the No. 1 national seed and hosted its own regional. After the Vols swept the competition in Knoxville, they hosted Evansville – the No. 4 regional seed in the Greenville Regional – in the super regional round. Tennessee took Game 1 handily, but Evansville bounced back with a stunning upset in Game 2 before the Vols went on to win the series.

In Omaha, the Volunteers avoided a first-round upset with a four-run comeback in the ninth inning against Florida State. Tennessee went on to take care of business against North Carolina then defeated the Seminoles once more to reach the CWS Finals.

Tennessee dropped Game 1 of the best-of-3 championship series after giving up seven runs in the first three innings. The team now faces elimination once again on the brink of the program’s first national title.

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