Texas A&M baseball falls as offense falters in College World Series Final game 2

Texas A&M baseball unable to keep Tennessee down as offense cannot get going; Vols tie series at 1-1 to set up deciding game tomorrow

When Jace LaViolette led off with a homer in the first inning against the Tennessee Volunteers, Texas A&M baseball fans were hoping for a similarly explosive offensive output as we saw yesterday. Unfortunately, as the game wore on, it became clear that that was not going to happen.

The Aggies battled tooth and nail in this one, but it wasn't quite enough. It's tough to beat the best offense in college baseball when you only score one run, and the Aggies—though they threatened once or twice—were unable to convert. As the innings wore on without Texas A&M adding any insurance, a sinking feeling began to grip Aggie fans.

The Volunteers showed why that dread was well-justified, adding a pair of two-run homers late in the game to snag a 4-1 lead—one which they did not let slip through the rest of the game. The Aggies made things interesting late, getting a couple of men on base and causing the Vols to bring in their best closer in Snead, but it wasn't enough to overcome the three-run deficit.

The entire team seemed just a bit sluggish today. Though the Ags managed to squeak out of some jams in the earlier part of the game, there was a bit of sloppy play that suggested that the Ags weren't on their best stuff on the day. Part of that is the now-patented Chris Cortez Experience, but things like the Chestnut fielding faux pas just showed that this A&M team wasn't in tip top shape.

The Aggies now face a daunting task in a winner-take-all game against Tennessee tomorrow. The Vols have yet to use their best arm in Sechrist, but the Aggies still have Aschenbeck in their back pocket. Brace yourselves, Texas A&M baseball fans—it'll no doubt be a roller coaster.