OMAHA, Neb. (WATE) — Tennessee lives to see another day in Omaha. Despite trailing 1-0 for the first six innings, both Dylan Dreiling and Cal Stark hit two-run home runs to secure a 4-1 win and force a decisive third game on Monday.
Christian Moore started off the first inning with a leadoff single and then stole second. However, he was left stranded after a Blake Burke fly out to left and back-to-back strikeouts from Billy Amick and Dreiling.
Similar to game one, Texas A&M took an early 1-0 lead on a solo shot, this time from Jace LaViolette. Back-to-back strikeouts from Drew Beam ended the inning.
Hunter Ensley singled up the middle to lead off the top of the second. Texas A&M then made a pitching change, bringing in junior reliever Chris Cortez. Kavares Tears struck out for the first out, and then Dean Curley flew one out to centerfield for the second out. Cannon Peebles, making his first start in the College World Series, drew a walk to put two runners on.
Stark extended the inning thanks to a Texas A&M throwing error to load the bases for Moore. However, Moore grounded out to second to leave all three runners stranded.
Drew Beam struck out the side in the bottom of the second to prevent any further damage. He struck out five through two innings of work.
The junior gave up a leadoff single to Kaeden Kent, but had a successful pickoff to first base for the first out. Beam then struck out back-to-back batters to bring the Vols back to the plate.
Tennessee loaded the bases again in the fourth. Tears hit a leadoff single, while Cannon Peebles and Moore both drew walks. However, Burke grounded out to second base to once again leave the trio stranded. The Vols left 10 runners on base in game one, and were up to eight runners stranded in just the fourth inning.
The Aggies threatened in the bottom of the fifth. Caden Sorrell hit a leadoff single and Beam walked Ali Camarillo to put two runners on with no outs. Tony Vitello decided Drew Beam’s day was over and turned to Aaron Combs on the mound.
The Vols worked their way out of the jam without allowing a run. Combs struck out the first two batters he faced and Cal Stark threw behind the runner at first for a pickoff to end the inning.
Tennessee once again put two runners on in the top of the sixth, but didn’t score any runs to show for it. Dean Curley singled and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Peebles drew a walk with one out. But Stark grounded out into a double play to end the inning and keep the Vols off the board.
Dreiling continued his strong performance here in Omaha by giving Tennessee its first lead of the series in the seventh. After a Moore walk, Dreiling knocked a two-run shot into the Tennessee bullpen to give the Vols a 2-1 advantage.
Stark followed up with another two-run homer in the eighth to extend Tennessee’s lead to 4-1. It was the catcher’s first hit here in Omaha as Stark was 0-for-16 before that blast.
After giving up a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, Combs was replaced by Kirby Connell on the mound. Connell, who has pitched in every game here in Omaha, gave up another single and so Nate Snead came out of the bullpen with two runners on and no outs.
Tennessee got the first out on a fielder’s choice that put runners on the corners for the Aggies. Kaeden Kent flew out to left field as Dreiling made the grab for the second out. Tears caught the third and final out in right to secure the win and force a winner-take-all game tomorrow night.
First pitch for game three of the College World Series Final is at 6 p.m.
