Tennessee players, coaches and staff all celebrated the final out of the 2024 College World Series after defeating Texas A&M.
The Volunteers won 6-5 in a nail biter at the end as the Aggies score two runs in the top of 9th and had a chance to tie or take the lead. However, the Volunteers hung on for their second straight win and a national title.
You can see the final out and celebration below.
After a leadoff home run from Christian Moore in the bottom of the first, Tennessee had all the answers.
Dylan Dreiling hit a sacrifice fly to go up 2-1 and then Dean Curley singled into left field to extend the lead 3-1. Once the game progressed to the 7th inning, Texas A&M threatened with two runners on and one out. But, the Aggies were unable to score.
In the bottom half of the inning, Dreiling struck again, this time with a two-run home run to put Tennessee up 5-1. Kavares Tears added another run with a double to make it 6-1.
The Aggies wouldn’t go home without a fight though, scoring two in the top of the 8th. Hayden Schott drove one in and followed by Caden Sorrell, making it 6-3. Despite putting up two runs in the ninth, Texas A&M fell short and Tennessee were crowned national champions.
Coming in to the game, Tennessee coach Tony Vitello mentioned how much effort both teams put forth in a close Game 2, won by the Volunteers.
“It was an SEC war, or just a postseason war,” Vitello said. “And in that situation, if you had your druthers, you’d like to have the last at-bat because you know the ninth inning is going to be full of drama. But I think our kids kept their composure in that ninth inning including Ariel in a real tough play. You don’t want to see anyone get hurt there. But it was a do-or-die deal where you couldn’t shy away. You had to make a decision what you were going to do …
“Obviously it’s easy because the score is what it is. But I felt we were more true to who we were today in pregame, in the dugout, during the game. And, again, it’s easy to say that because we end up doing okay on the scoreboard. But I’d rather go into battle with that group the way they showed up today and hope they do the same tomorrow.”
Despite being on the losing end in Game 2, Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle thought the same.
“I thought it was a great ball game,” he said. “I guess the difference in the game, two two-out homers. They got the big swings at the right time. But we battled back. Combs obviously settled down the game really well for them. And I thought Chris battled. I thought I was proud of Kaiden WIlson. Two pitches got him. Dreiling was on the fastball. And he hung a breaking ball to the catcher.
“So close ball game. Just exactly what you’d expect with these two teams. To think you’re going to roll right through it in two games would be, that would have been nice but it’s obviously — we get to play. We don’t have to play. We get to play the last college baseball game of the season. And that’s awesome.”
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