OMAHA, Nebraska — Tennessee used a late offensive surge to beat Texas A&M 4-1 in Game Two of the College World Series Finals at Charles Schwab Field on Sunday.
In the top of the first inning, Christian Moore had a leadoff single and later stole second base to get a runner in scoring position. With two outs, Dylan Dreiling struck out to end the half inning.
Just like they took the lead in Game One, Texas A&M took the lead in the first inning with a solo home run. Jace LaViolette sent one over the fence in right field to put the Aggies up 1-0.
In the top of the second inning, UT got the bases loaded with two outs and Moore up to bat. In the at bat prior, Cal Stark hit one to shortstop, but he reached on an error to first base to get back to the top of the lineup. However, Moore grounded out to second base and the Vols would not score.
In the bottom of the second inning, Drew Beam struck out all three batters he had faced. That made five strikeouts in a row after letting up the home run.
In the top of the third inning, the Vols once again got the leadoff batter on first base with no outs. They were unable to get anyone in scoring position after Burke was walked. Amick struck out, Dreiling reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in Burke being out at second base and then Hunter Ensley struck out.
In the bottom of the third inning, Beam let up a hit to Kaeden Kent. He responded by picking him off at first base for an out. Then he struck out the next two batters to up his total to seven after three innings.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Vols once again got the leadoff man on as Tears hit a single. Dean Curley flew out for the first out. Cannon Peebles then drew his second walk of the game to get a runner on first and second base.
After Stark struck out, Moore was walked to load the bases for Burke. He check swung and made contact with the ball that put it in play. Kent fielded it and flipped the ball to first with his glove. Burke almost beat out the lip, but was out and UT came up empty on the scoreboard again.
The Vols held the Aggies scoreless once again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Amick, Dreiling and Ensley went down in order in the top of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Beamlet up a single and a walk with no outs. That would be the end of his day after pitching four innings, allowing three hits, one run and dealing seven strikeouts. Aaron Combs took his place on the mound.
He came in and delivered back-to-back strikeouts. Stark rifled a ball to first base to get the runner out after Burke applied the tag to get Tennessee out of any danger.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Vols got runners on first and second base with one out. Stark would ground into a double play as the Vols once again couldn't score with a runner in scoring position.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Aggies had runners on first and third base with two outs. They wouldn't let a run score, a pop out to Tears in right field ended the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, Moore led off with a walk. Burke popped out deep to center field and Moore advanced to second on the out. Amick flew out to right field for the second out but Moore could not advance.
Tennessee got on the board with Dreiling up to bat. He sent a two-run home run to right field that put the Vols up 2-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Combs dialed up back-to-back strikeouts to start things off, He forced a pop out to end the inning.
The Vols struck again in the top of the eighth inning. when Cal Stark hit a two-run home run to left field. It was his first hit of the College World Series as he had gone 0 for 16 up until that home run.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Tennessee got two quick outs but then the Aggies got runners on first and second base after a single and a walk. UT held strong again defensively and forced another pop out to end the inning.
Game Three is at 7 p.m. on Monday. The game will be televised on ESPN. Whichever team wins Game Three, it will be the first national team in that team's program history.
