GOOD: Texas A&M comes from behind to secure emphatic MCWS berth

Game #62: #3 Texas A&M 15, Oregon 9
Records: Texas A&M (49-13, 19-11), Oregon (40-20, 19-11)
WP: Zane Badmaev (3-0)
LP: Brock Moore (4-1)
Save: Evan Aschenbeck (9)
Box Score

There are many ways to make the journey to Omaha.

On Sunday, the Aggies appeared content to walk their way to America's Heartland.

But instead of punching the ticket, Kaeden Kent slammed Texas A&M's spot in the 2024 Men's College World Series into existence.

"I've never hit a baseball and been able to take in the moment," he said postgame. "That was the first time I was ever able to do that, and it was awesome. It felt great."

In a 15-9 victory over Oregon at Blue Bell Park, Kent’s big swing off Jaxon Moore sent the 7,934 assembled at Blue Bell Park into a magical hysteria.

The grand slam — his second such swing of the year — landed in Section 12 to emphatically punctuate a nine-run seventh inning.

"He has earned every single bit of what came to him tonight," A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said of Kent. "I believe in the saying that the game knows.

"I can promise you this, if I had to make every single decision with my heart, Kaeden Kent would play every single day at whatever position he wants because you know what kind of competitor he is, and the way he has handled it this year is defining of our team. That's why he had the moment."

It was just A&M's second hit of the frame.

The other? Kent's single earlier in the 41-minute half-inning.

Indeed, Oregon's pitching collapsed and squandered an 8-4 lead.

"I wish I could go back and change it, but what happened happened," reliever Brock Moore said. "I apologized to my teammates, but I gave everything I had. Wish I could go back and change that front side. I lost it. I knew what was going on, but I couldn't find it in myself to figure it out."

Melting down in the Texas heat, Moore walked five and hit another as the Ducks issued eight total free passes in the inning.

Ali Camarillo's bases-loaded walk put the Aggies ahead for good and set the stage for Kent to blow the roof off of Olsen Field.

"Rounding third, I was pointing to the fans," Kent said. "I was pointing to them because they played honestly probably the biggest role in that inning. It was so special to play in front of them and what they've done for us."

In total, A&M scored 11 unanswered runs as Hayden Schott added a two-run blast to left to build the lead to 15-8.

Schott finished 4-for-4 with four driven in to go along with Kent's 3-for-5 evening that featured five RBIs.

"He hasn't pouted," Schlossnagle said of Kent. "He's been pissed, and that's fine. I don't expect guys to be happy without playing, but he just goes out there and takes his ground balls, gets his swings.

"When he hits a homer in BP, he always makes sure I see it, and I tell him I see every single swing. I'm just so proud of him."

Katie Smith, TexAgs

Kaeden Kent’s grand slam was just his third home run of the season.

On the weekend, Schott went 7-for-9 and seven RBIs.

With those two leading Sunday’s charge, A&M's offense did what it had so often in putting the final touches on a 38-3 home record in 2024.

The Aggies passed the baton.

They got timely hitting.

They delivered the biggest blows.

"It starts in the dugout," Schott said. "Everyone, man. It takes a village, and our village showed out today when we could have really easily just kind of sat back and waited for tomorrow. I'm so proud of these guys, man."

Much like against Georgia 43 days ago, another offensive outburst was necessary.

Shane Sdao left with an apparent left-arm injury just 11 pitches into his start. He had already allowed two runs as the first of a half dozen Aggies to struggle at keeping the Ducks at bay.

After three complete, Oregon led 7-2 and appeared destined to force a decisive Game 3.

But as Jackson Appel said Saturday, A&M never hit the panic button.

"Incredible night. The 12th Man was amazing," Schlossnagle said. "Obviously, super proud of our players for all of the adversity we've dealt with in the last 48 hours, well, actually, the whole week.

"Guys just kept playing, and the 12th Man played a huge role in that."

In fact, the Ags erupted and ultimately handed the ball to all-time pitcher Evan Aschenbeck for a three-inning save.

By getting Bryce Boettcher to pop up the Kent, the Brenham Bell Cow completed the Duck hunt.

And now the 825-mile trek to Charles Schwab Field Omaha can commence.