Texas A&M baseball appeared to be in trouble in Game 1 of its super regional series against Oregon on Saturday.
However, the No. 3 Aggies' offense, along with a tremendous showing by relief pitcher Chris Cortez, moved them one win away from their second College World Series appearance in three seasons under coach Jim Schlossnagle.
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Texas A&M defeated Oregon 10-6 on Saturday at Blue Bell Park, despite facing a 6-2 deficit heading into the third inning. Aggies ace Ryan Prager was hit around for six runs, managing to get only five outs before he was pulled for Cortez, who allowed Texas A&M to get back in the game.
Cortez was electric against the Ducks, allowing no runs and striking out a career-high 10 batters across 5.2 innings before handing the ball to Evan Aschenback, who got the final five outs. Oregon was held scoreless the final seven innings after breaking through for six early runs.
Texas A&M scored three runs each in the fourth and fifth inning, which ultimately served as the difference. The Aggies were led offensively by Jackson Appel and Hayden Schott, who both went 3 for 5 at the plate with two and three RBIs each, respectively.
Unfortunately for Texas A&M, star outfielder Braden Montgomery injured his leg as he attempted to score from second in the first inning. He didn't return to the game and was shown with an air cast and crutches throughout the contest.
Follow along here for the score, updates and highlights from the game:
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Texas A&M baseball vs Oregon score
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Oregon | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Texas A&M | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
Texas A&M baseball vs Oregon live updates, highlights
Final: Texas A&M 10, Oregon 6
4:40 p.m.: Aschenbeck ends the game on a strikeout. Texas A&M moves a win away from Omaha.
4:38 p.m.: Aschenbeck doing his thing, with a strikeout and a groundout to the pitcher. Aggies an out away from going up 1-0 in the series.
Eighth inning: Texas A&M 10, Oregon 6
4:34 p.m.: Camarillo flies out to center after the pitching change. Aschenbeck headed back out for the final three outs.
4:31 p.m.: A&M with back-to-back two-out singles off the bats off Burton and Schott result in a pitching change.
4:25 p.m.: Kent leads off the inning with a single but is thrown out at second after attempting to steal. Appel then flies out to right field for the second out of the inning.
4:18 p.m.: Aschenbeck strands Oregon's two runners on a flyout and a full count strike out to end the inning. Texas A&M is three outs away from securing game one.
4:13 p.m.: Aggies closer Evan Aschenbeck coming in to close this thing up. He's going to be asked to get five outs.
4:12 p.m.: Cortez hits a batter, and that's going to be it for the day. He was nails in relief and kept the Aggies in it.
His final line: No runs on two hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.
4:11 p.m.: Cortez walks the leadoff batter but responds by striking out the next. He's up to 10 strikeouts on the day.
Seventh inning: Texas A&M 10, Oregon 6
4:05 p.m.: LaViolette strikes out and the Aggies are struck out in order. Oregon relief pitcher Logan Mercado has been good in his three innings of work so far.
4:02 p.m.: Chestnut and Grahovac both strike out swinging to start the inning, bringing up LaViolette with two outs.
3:54 p.m.: Cortez just set his new career-high in strikeouts with nine. He retires Oregon in order again and continues to dominate since entering in relief.
Sixth inning: Texas A&M 10, Oregon 6
3:49 p.m.: Texas A&M goes down in order to end the sixth inning. Quick inning by both teams in the sixth.
3:43 p.m.: Cortez works around a single and a walk and shuts down the Ducks yet again. He has been everything the Aggies have needed so far.
Fifth inning: Texas A&M 10, Oregon 6
3:33 p.m.: Burton flies out to center field to end the inning, but the Aggies plate three runs despite no hits in the inning.
3:31 p.m.: Appel does his job and scores another run on the RBI groundout. Aggies with a runner on third with two outs now.
3:30 p.m.: Kent plates another run on the RBI groundout to first base. Aggies still with runners on second and third with just one out.
3:28 p.m.: Oregon's fourth straight walk plates an Aggies run. LaViolette was not the guy Oregon wanted to pitch to there.
3:23 p.m.: Grahovac walks to load the bases. Oregon going with the pitching change.
3:22 p.m.: Another wild pitch puts runners on second and third with no outs and Grahovac at the plate. Oregon pitchers falling apart here.
3:20 p.m.: Sorrell advances to second on the wild pitch before Chestnut also draws a walk. Aggies with runners on first and second and no outs.
3:16 p.m.: Sorrell draws a leadoff walk.
3:13 p.m.: What a showing so far for Cortez, who retires the Ducks in order. He has shut the door since entering this game.
Fourth inning: Texas A&M 7, Oregon 6
3:09 p.m.: Camarillo flies out to first base to end the inning, but the Aggies get the lead back.
3:04 p.m.: Schott nearly grounds out into a double play, but hustles enough to beat the play at first base. Aggies take a 7-6 lead on the fielder's choice.
3:03 p.m.: Burton draws a walk to load the bases for Texas A&M. Schott up to the plate in a big spot with one out.
2:57 p.m.: Pitching change coming for Oregon, and the Aggies crowd is loving it.
2:56 p.m.: What a day for Appel, who doubles down the right-field line to put runners on second and third with one out. Oregon getting some action going in the bullpen.
2:54 p.m.: Kent reaches first base on an error, which results in LaViolette scoring from third. Aggies got this thing tied up.
2:53 p.m.: Here comes Texas A&M. Grahovac singles to left center before LaViolette scores him on a double to right field, reaching third on an error. One-run game.
2:47 p.m.: Cortez has been dealing since entering for Prager, giving the Aggies a chance to come back.
Third inning: Oregon 6, Texas A&M 4
2:36 p.m.: Aggies get one run back, but the inning ends on a Sorrell groundout.
2:33 p.m.: Texas A&M gets another run back on a single by Schott after the strikeout by Burton.
2:31 p.m.: Appel advances to third on the wild pitch.
2:28 p.m.: Appel having a nice day, as he nearly homers to right field but settles for a leadoff double off the wall.
2:23 p.m.: Cortez has provided some stability for the Aggies out of the bullpen, retiring Oregon in order to start the third.
Second inning: Oregon 6, Texas A&M 3
2:15 p.m.: LaViolette draws the walk before Kent hits a deep flyout to end the inning. Looked like the ball had a chance for a second.
2:14 p.m.: After review, the call stands on the Chestnut out. Grahovac then strikes out for the second out of the inning.
2:10 p.m.: Tough mistake for Texas A&M, as Chestnut is picked off at second base by the Oregon pitcher. Chestnut makes the first out of the inning.
2:05 p.m.: Chestnut draws the leadoff walk.
2:01 p.m.: Cortez gets out of the inning with a strikeout on a filthy slider. Aggies got more work to do offensively.
1:58 p.m.: Prager's day is done, as he's relieved by Chris Cortez.
Prager's final line: Six runs on seven hits across 1.2 innings with a strikeout.
1:57 p.m.: Aggies starting to get the bullpen going, as Prager allows a deep, two-run double.
1:56 p.m.: Prager having a rough time out there. Oregon takes the lead on an RBI single through the 6 hole. Ducks seeing the ball well today.
1:54 p.m.: Prager forces a lineout, but Oregon tags up and scores from third. Game is now tied.
1:52 p.m.: Prager hits an Oregon batter with a pitch to load the bases.
1:49 p.m.: Ducks not folding early, either. Oregon ropes a single to the outfield to put runners on first and third with one out. Prager getting unusually hit around early.
1:48 p.m.: Kaeden Kent enters for Montgomery, sliding in at second base as Chestnut moves to center field and LaViolette shifts to right field.
1:46 p.m.: Prager forces more weak contact, but Oregon gets its second infield hit of the day. Tough break for the Aggies as the Ducks get a runner on first.
First inning: Texas A&M 3, Oregon 2
1:43 p.m.: Caden Sorrell flies out to left to end the inning, but A&M certainly did its damage.
1:40 p.m.: Ali Camarillo singles to left field, with Schott held at third.
1:38 p.m.: Hayden Schott doubles to right center, sending Burton home and giving the Aggies the lead.
1:36 p.m.: A wild pitch from Oregon allows Appel to score and Burton to advance to third. Tie ballgame.
1:34 p.m.: That's going to leave a big hole in the Aggies' lineup, it seems. Montgomery leaves the game in an air cast as he's helped to the dugout by trainers.
1:32 p.m.: Montgomery with an awkward fall near home plate and is down being tended to by trainers. He's holding his lower leg.
1:31 p.m.: Tough break for the Aggies, as Burton lines a single to left field that appeared to be enough for Montgomery to score, however, Montgomery hesitated rounding third and was thrown out at home.
1:26 p.m.: Aggies get a run back, as Appel ropes a single into right field to score Grahovac. Texas A&M working back quickly.
1:22 p.m.: LaViolette pops up, but Montgomery draws a walk. Aggies with runners on first and second with an out for Appel.
1:18 p.m.: Exactly what the Aggies needed, as Grahovac draws a leadoff walk on four straight pitches, which sparks the Texas A&M "Ball 5" chant. A&M with a baserunner for team home-run leader LaViolette.
1:13 p.m.: Prager gets out the inning on a strikeout. A&M has some work to do early.
1:12 p.m.: Prager forces a ground ball that's turned into a double play. That'll help the cause.
1:11 p.m.: Prager allows another hit on the infield single. He fielded the ball but sort of bobbled the transfer and couldn't make the play.
1:10 p.m.: Tough start for the Aggies, as Oregon's two-hole hitter comes up and smacks a two-run home run. No runners, no outs again.
1:08 p.m.: Prager allows a leadoff single to start this one. Oregon with a good start.
Pregame
1:05 p.m.: Blue Bell Park is absolutely packed. A&M going to certainly have a home-field advantage for this one.
12:47 p.m.: Oregon now has its lineup out. Ducks are going with RJ Gordon on the mound to start. Gordon is 7-5 with a 4.73 ERA, the worst ERA of Oregon's three primary starters.
12:32 p.m.: Texas A&M is out with its lineup. Left-hander Ryan Prager getting the start today on the mound.
Prager is 8-1 with a 2.53 ERA this season for the Aggies.
What channel is Texas A&M baseball vs Oregon on today?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo
Texas A&M's game against Oregon on Saturday will air live on ESPN2, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Texas A&M baseball schedule 2024
Here's Texas A&M baseball's last five results. For the Aggies' full schedule, click here.
- Sunday, June 2: Texas A&M 9, Louisiana 4
- Saturday, June 1: Texas A&M 4, Texas 2 (11 innings)
- Friday, May 31: Texas A&M 8, Grambling 0
- Thursday, May 23: Tennessee 7, Texas A&M 4
- Wednesday, May 22: Mississippi State 5, Texas A&M 3
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