Dylan Dreiling’s fourth hit of the game was a walk-off single, capping No. 1 Tennessee’s four-run ninth inning and giving the Volunteers a stunning 12-11 win over No. 8 Florida State in the Men’s College World Series on Friday in Omaha, Neb.
The contest was the opener for both teams in the double-elimination event.
The Seminoles (47-16) led 9-4 through four innings and 11-8 through eight but couldn’t hold on.
Tennessee (56-12) was led by Christian Moore, who notched the second cycle in MCWS history. The other was accomplished by Jerry Kindall for Minnesota in 1956. Moore, the Volunteers’ leadoff hitter, went 5-for-6 and scored four runs.
Blake Burke added three hits, three RBIs and three runs for the Volunteers, while Kavares Tears had a two-run homer among his two hits.
Jaime Ferrer hit a two-run homer and knocked in four runs for the Seminoles. Marco Dinges went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Max Williams and Alex Lodise had two hits apiece.
Tennessee reliever Nate Snead (10-2) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Brennen Oxford (2-1), the third of four Florida State pitchers, took the loss.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tears led off with a triple against Conner Whittaker, and he scored on Dean Curley’s sacrifice fly, pulling the Volunteers within 11-9.
Oxford took over on the mound and issued a walk before getting a foulout to move Florida State within one out of a win. Moore doubled to put runners at second and third, and Burke’s two-run single to center tied the game.
Billy Amick singled, moving Burke to second and prompting Connor Hults to replace Oxford. Dreiling then sent a 1-0 pitch to left-center, ending the game.
–Field Level Media