Florida baseball will take on a familiar opponent in Texas A&M on Saturday night in the Opening Round of the 2024 College World Series. The two ballclubs met back in March, with the Gators taking two of three games to kick off SEC play.
A lot has changed for both teams since their weekend clash, to the point where it’s difficult to takeaway anything from the early season series.
“That series is so long ago. It has no bearing on Saturday night,” Kevin O’Sullivan said on Thursday. “It does make it a little bit easier because we have played them three times. I’m sure Schloss will say the same thing. You know, they played us three times. From a scouting report deal, it does save you a little bit of time, but I’m sure they would say the same thing. But the series we played in Gainesville has no bearing on Saturday night.”
Pitching matchup
RHP Liam Peterson (3-4, 5.97 ERA) vs LHP Justin Lamkin (2-2, 5.72 ERA).
In somewhat stunning news, the Aggies will not throw their ace in the opening round against Florida. Justin Lamkin, a 6’4, 210-pound sophomore, will toe the rubber on Saturday night. The left hander primarily served as the Aggies’ Saturday and Sunday starter this season but has only made one appearance in the postseason and has pitched just a third of an inning since May 17th.
One of Texas A&M’s better starters in Shane Sdao suffered a season ending injury during the Super Regional’s, which likely threw a wrench in head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s plans heading into Omaha. Even still, the Aggies could have thrown their Friday night guy in Ryan Prager, but it’s clear they want him available for the critical game two.
In 55 innings pitched this season, Lamkin has worked to a 5.72 ERA and a 2-2 record. The lefty has struck out 71 batters and walked just 19 in 2024. Despite great strikeout and walk numbers, Lamkin has been hit hard at times this year, allowing 55 hits and 10 home runs while holding a .258 batting average against in 2024.
Lamkin has struggled mightily since May, allowing 12 earned runs in his last 8.2 innings pitched across four appearances, an ERA of 13.17 during that span.
The Texas native made an appearance against Florida earlier in the season, allowing two earned runs on four hits across 4.2 innings pitched in the Sunday start.
Florida will turn to true freshman Liam Peterson, who is looking to bounce back after a rocky super regional start against Clemson a week ago, where the 6’5 right hander allowed three runs and four walks in his lone inning pitched. The key for Peterson will be to stay in the zone and trust his stuff. Command has been the issue for the youngest to this point, and it won’t be easy pitching in front of the largest crowd the Gators have seen this year.
In his prior six appearances, Peterson allowed just seven earned runs in 24.2 innings pitched, an ERA of 2.60. The 6’5 right hander pitched to a 2-0 record during that span while striking out 27 batters.
Aggies’ bullpen
Texas A&M has two of the better bullpen arms across all of college baseball in Evan Aschenbeck and Chris Cortez. Both relievers are currently pitching at their best, which does not bode well for Florida.
Aschenbeck, a 6’2, 220-pound lefty, holds a 1.66 ERA on the 2024 season, the lowest ERA in the country. He’s the only eligible pitcher in college baseball with an ERA under 2.00. Serving as the Aggies’ closer, Aschenbeck has 9.1 innings pitched this postseason, holding a 0.96 ERA with one win and two saves. He’s only allowed one earned run on a combined two hits and one walk in that span. Aschenbeck has incredible command, walking just eight batters in 66 innings pitched this season.
Aschenbeck was recently named the 2024 Stopper of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers association.
RHP Chris Cortez has been just as good if not better than Aschenbeck over the last month, not allowing a single earned run in his last 13.2 innings pitched across four appearances. He’s stuck out 27 batters and walked seven while only surrendering two hits in that span. On the season, Cortez has pitched to a 2.83 ERA, good enough for 21st in the country.
“Cortez now is one of the hottest pitchers in the country,” O’Sullivan said on Texas A&M’s pitching staff. “They have a closer they really like that is extremely dependable. I mean, yeah, they’re well-rounded.” “And they’re older. They pitch really good. They have plenty of left-handed arms that really spin the ball, and they get to the back foot of the right-handed hitters.”
The duo of Aschenbeck and Cortez gives Texas A&M the luxury of having a short leash on starter Justin Lamkin if need be.
Dangerous offense
Even with the season ending injury to Braden Montgomery, one of the more well-rounded players in college baseball, the Aggies have two First Team All-Americans in Jackson Appel and Jace LaViolette on offense, according to NCBWA.
Appel, the Aggies’ starting catcher, is hitting .330 with 10 home runs and 14 doubles this season. Kevin O’Sullivan had high praise for the switch hitter on Thursday afternoon.
“They have a switch hitter. In my opinion — I said this when we played him. He is one of those unsung heroes,” O’Sullivan said on Appel. “It’s easy to — they have a third baseman, LaViolette, and Montgomery, and a bunch of those guys. But Appel for me, he was one of the most difficult outs in their lineup.”
Texas A&M has the ability to hit for average and power, holding a team batting average of .300 while launching 132 home runs to date, the 4th most in college baseball and one ahead of Florida.
The Aggies are coming off a combined 25 runs in two games against Oregon in the Super Regionals.
“They’ve got an outstanding lineup, and it’s split right left, right left all the way down,” O’Sullivan said on the Aggies’ offense.
The team teams will meet on Saturday at 7:00 PM EST in the Opening Round of the College World Series.