On Day 2 of the 2024 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, it took a lot of effort to match the excitement of The first two games on Friday. However, Saturday’s opener matched the excitement with another walk-off victory, this time in extra innings.
The next victory did not come until eight hours had passed.
Texas A&M 3, Florida 2
Shortly after the first game of the day, a thunderstorm hit Omaha and closed any chance of the game starting at the scheduled 6:00 p.m. game. The game finally began at 10 p.m. local time, an hour before the rules of the NCAA would have forced the organizers to move the game to Sunday.
Texas A&M drew first blood on a wild play in the second inning, when Travis Chestnut hit what could have been a bases-loaded double play. However, he took Florida third baseman Dale Thomas out of the bag enough that there was no play at first base and then at third.
Florida threatened late, scoring twice in the seventh inning and loading the bases in the eighth, but couldn’t get over the hump. End of the game: 1:13 am local time.
Key statistics
Aggies starter Justin Lamkin was excellent in three scoreless innings with six strikeouts and only one hit allowed, but was pulled after 42 pitches. Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle attributed the decision to the loss of starter Shane Sdao for the season, saying “hopefully we’re going to need (Lamkin’ later this week”).
play of the game
Florida leadoff hitter Cade Kurland hit the go-ahead home run in the ninth inning. Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette was the author of the robbery of the home run.
Kentucky 5, North Carolina State 4
Mitchell Daly’s two-out home run in the 10th inning off Derrick Smith gave No. 2 seed Kentucky a 5-4 victory over No. 10 NC State in the first game of Saturday’s action. The Wildcats’ victory was the third victory in the first three games at Charles Schwab Field.
Daly’s home run was the senior third baseman’s seventh of the season. During the season, he batted .302 with a .691 OPS.
Key statistics
Kentucky first baseman Ryan Nicholson went 3 for 4, including the game-tying home run in the ninth. The graduate transfer led the Wildcats during the regular season with 21 home runs and 61 RBIs with a .299 batting average and 1.080 OPS.
play of the game
Nicholson’s opposite-field home run for the Wildcats in the bottom of the ninth off NC State’s Jacob Dudan tied the score at 4-4. In the top of the inning, the Wolfpack’s Garrett Pennington scored on Johnny Hummel’s wild pitch in the ninth for a 4-3 lead.
what they are saying
“We’ve taken Dudan first and then Smith second all year long.” said NC State head coach Elliott Avent. when asked why Dudan started the ninth, instead of closer Derrick Smith.
Whats Next
The victorious Kentucky and Texas A&M will meet in the next round on Monday at 7 pm ET. Florida and NC State will move on to the loser’s bracket on the same day at 2 pm ET in an elimination game.
Who will win the College World Series Jell-O Shot Race?
Tennessee remains in the lead, although the long wait for Texas A&M’s first game allowed them to close a gap of about 1,800 to 1,200 into Saturday night.