The Tennessee Volunteers’ offense finally burst into life in Game 2 of the College World Series finals, forcing a decisive third game with a 4-1 triumph over Texas A&M. Dylan Dreiling’s seventh-inning home run proved to be the turning point, while Cal Stark’s eighth-inning blast provided some much-needed insurance.
After a lackluster performance in Game 1, the Vols’ bats finally woke up, with Dreiling’s 390-foot shot igniting the team and the crowd. Stark’s homer in the eighth added some extra cushion, and Nate Snead shut the door in the ninth to secure the win.
Tennessee is on a mission to claim its first national title in baseball, and its first since being crowned the top total seed. The Vols will face off against the Aggies in the final game of the series, with the winner claiming the championship.
Coach Tony Vitello praised his team’s effort, saying, “We were more true to ourselves today…We showed up with the right mindset and it paid off on the scoreboard.” The Vols will look to carry that momentum into the final game, as they try to make history and bring home the title.
With 182 home runs this season, Tennessee is on the verge of breaking the NCAA record of 188 set by LSU in 1997. The Vols’ potent offense has been their strength all season, and they’ll need it to come through one more time if they want to claim the championship.