Jace LaViolette’s spectacular catch robbed Cade Kurland of a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning, while Justin Lamkin and two relievers struck out a combined 16 batters. This heroic performance helped Texas A&M hold off Florida 3-2 in a weather-delayed Men's College World Series opener that stretched into the early hours of Sunday.
The Aggies (50-13) are now set to face Kentucky on Monday night in a Bracket 2 winners' game. On the flip side, the Gators (34-29), last year’s national runner-up to LSU, will meet NC State in a Monday afternoon elimination game.
The game kicked off with Texas A&M scoring its runs in the first three innings against Liam Peterson (3-5). Peterson, a freshman, was making history as the first to start an MCWS opener for Florida. The Aggies then turned to their pitching trio of Lamkin, Chris Cortez (10-3), and Evan Aschenbeck to suppress the Gators' potent offense.
Florida’s reputation for dramatic comebacks in the NCAA tournament loomed large as they had rallied in four of their six wins. They nearly pulled off another one in this game. Down by one in the eighth inning, the Gators loaded the bases with two outs against Aschenbeck. As the pressure mounted, second baseman Kaeden Kent managed to scoop Dale Thomas' slow roller and flick it underhanded to first baseman Ted Burton just in time to secure the third out.
The ninth inning saw more drama unfold. Michael Robertson got on base with one out before Kurland sent a fly ball deep into right-center field. With his back against the fence, LaViolette made a breathtaking leap to snag the ball, preventing the homer. Following this, Aschenbeck walked the dangerous All-America slugger Jac Caglianone but kept his composure to strike out Ashton Wilson, securing his 10th save. "Super awesome game, and I told Jace I'm really happy he's tall," Aggies coach Jim Schlossnagle remarked with a grin.
The game had its share of weather woes, starting four hours and seven minutes late due to rain and lightning. Wind gusts of over 25 mph added another layer of complexity, though it settled down after the storms passed.
"I got a total wrong read off the bat, I'm not going to lie," LaViolette admitted about his game-saving catch. "I looked up and thought this might be a homer, and my heart dropped for a second. Then I was at the wall. I give a little credit to the wind. This ballpark plays a lot bigger than what it is, and the wind knocked it down a little bit. It was a real cool play."
Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan echoed the sentiment, saying, "He thought he got it. I thought he got it. Right fielder made a heck of a play."
Schlossnagle's decision to start Lamkin and save season-long No. 1 pitcher Ryan Prager for Monday’s game was a calculated risk. This strategy was crucial, especially with the Aggies short on starters due to Shane Sdao’s season-ending arm injury in the super regional against Oregon.
Lamkin, who had struggled in his previous two starts and had only made a brief nine-pitch relief appearance in the past month, stepped up when it mattered most. He allowed just one baserunner and struck out six over three innings, setting the tone early.
Texas A&M’s scoring began with Travis Chestnut’s bases-loaded infield single and a wild pitch in the second inning, followed by Caden Sorrell’s double in the third.
Cortez took over and kept the Gators at bay through the fourth and sixth innings. Florida managed to break through in the seventh with back-to-back doubles from Tyler Shelnut and Thomas. Aschenbeck then faced Michael Robertson, whose RBI groundout cut the Aggies' lead to 3-2, intensifying the suspense.
The eighth and ninth innings were particularly nerve-wracking for Aschenbeck and the Aggies. Aschenbeck had to make precise pitches under immense pressure. "Evan had to make really good pitches to get out of it," Schlossnagle said. "Really good [opponent], playing in the College World Series with your season on the line, we trust Evan. You're going to ride or die with your best."
The combination of stellar pitching, timely defense, and a bit of wind-aided luck allowed Texas A&M to clinch this thrilling opener. The win sets up a promising showdown with Kentucky, while Florida faces the pressure of an elimination game against NC State.
For the fans and players alike, this game will be remembered not just for its late-night drama but for the clutch performances that kept the Aggies’ championship hopes alive. As the College World Series continues, every pitch, catch, and hit will be crucial in the quest for the title. The excitement and unpredictability of the tournament make it a must-watch event, with teams fighting tooth and nail to stay in the race.
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