OMAHA, Neb. — Tennessee Baseball won in Game One of the NCAA Men's College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The Vols won by a score of 12-11 on Friday night.
In the first inning, after just eight pitches, Aj Causey entered in relief for starting pitcher Chris Stamos. Despite Florida State scoring their first run off a wild pitch, Causey managed to strike out Alex Lodise, getting the Vols out of a tight spot with three on and two outs. The Vols only allowed one run going into the bottom of the frame, 1-0.
Christian Moore hit a triple to right center field, and then Blake Burke singled to score Moore and tie the game quickly. Billy Amick walked to load the bases before Dylan Dreiling singled to score Burke and put UT up one, 2-1.
Causey closed out the second inning with a ground ball back to himself to get out of the inning with a double play.
Moore doubled into the left field corner, and Cal Stark booked it to score from first base after Florida State's catcher dropped the throw at the plate. Burke then reached first base on another throwing error to score Moore and put Tennessee up three to end the second, 4-1.
The Seminoles responded with six runs in the third. They hit back-to-back singles and a two-run double to cut the lead to one. Kirby Connell entered for the Vols with three on and no outs, but Florida State took the lead after Connell walked a run, Burke dropped a double that allowed two runs, and Cam Smith tripled to give FSU a three-run advantage, 7-4.
Florida State made things short for Tennessee with a 1-6-3 double play to end the frame and keep the score still.
Aaron Combs came in for the Vols in the fourth, but the momentum was the same for the Seminoles. Jaime Ferrer hit a two-run home run to extend FSU's lead to 9-4.
Tennessee got some rhythm back in the fifth and sixth innings. Kavares Tears hit a two-run home run to make it a three-run game, 9-6. Then, Moore stepped back up to the plate for a fourth at-bat and smashed his 33rd long ball of the season to snatch just the second cycle in MCWS history. The first was back in 1956. It was a 9-7 game going into the seventh inning.
Andrew Behnke came in to pitch for the Vols, but the Seminoles kept hitting off every Tennessee arm. Marco Dinges smashed a double to left center field to score two more for FSU.
Pitcher Connor Whittaker struck out three Vols to end the frame. After Tennessee sent in its sixth pitcher of the night, Nate Snead got out of a jam with two on in the top of the eight.
Tennessee again cut it to three when Dreiling singled to left field to bring Burke home. However, Whittaker limited the damage, ended the inning with a ground ball to himself, and sent Florida State to the ninth ahead 11-8.
The Seminoles couldn't get a run in the ninth, so it was the last shot for Tennessee to take the lead. Tears smashed a triple to center field, and Dean Curley hit a sac fly to score Tears and make it a two-run game, 11-9.
Florida State switched up pitchers. Cannon Peebles walked to first, but Cal Stark popped up for the second out of the inning. It was up to Christian Moore to wrap up an already legendary night in his career. He delivered and hit a double to put a man on second and third. Blake Burke, with two outs and a full count, singled up the middle to tie up the game, 11-11.
Billy Amick hit a base hit to first and with two on and two outs, the Seminoles changed pitchers. Dreiling singled to left center to score Burke and win 12-11.
The Vols will play in the winner's bracket against UNC on Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT.
