College World Series Finals 2024: Tennessee Beats Texas A&M in Game 2 to Even Series
June 23, 2024
A pair of two-run homers propelled Tennessee to a 4-1 win over Texas A&M in Game 2 of the College World Series on Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday.
Left fielder Dylan Dreiling put the Vols up for good with his two-out, two-run blast for a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh.
Tennessee Baseball @Vol_BaseballThey don't make 'em any more CLUTCH than DYLAN DREILING!<br><br>LET'S GOOOO!<br><br>📺 <a href="https://t.co/dOromFvTCS">https://t.co/dOromFvTCS</a> (ABC)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GBO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GBO</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTH</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCWS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MCWS</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatTAMU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatTAMU</a> <a href="https://t.co/sWK0xhyhWX">pic.twitter.com/sWK0xhyhWX</a>
Dreiling now has two homers in the CWS final after hitting one in Game 1. He now has 22 on the year.
One inning later, catcher Cal Stark added a two-out, two-run, two-strike homer for a 4-1 edge in the top of the eighth.
Tennessee Baseball @Vol_BaseballSTARK INDUSTRIES 🚀<br><br>BANG!<br><br>📺 <a href="https://t.co/dOromFvTCS">https://t.co/dOromFvTCS</a> (ABC)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GBO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GBO</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTH</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCWS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MCWS</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatTAMU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatTAMU</a> <a href="https://t.co/KhmpL1ZBY3">pic.twitter.com/KhmpL1ZBY3</a>
Stark was 0-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the College World Series before the homer.
The Aggies got on the board when outfielder Jace LaViolette hit a first-inning solo homer:
Texas A&M Baseball @AggieBaseballAGS STRIKE FIRST 💣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GigEm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GigEm</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/JaceLaViolette2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JaceLaViolette2</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCWS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MCWS</a> <a href="https://t.co/eaDkHztQJP">pic.twitter.com/eaDkHztQJP</a>
LaViolette, a sophomore, now has 29 homers in 2024 and 50 on the year.
Texas A&M had multiple chances to break through for more runs.
In the fifth, the Aggies got runners on first and second with no out, but a pair of strikeouts and a Stark back-pick of Ali Camarillo stopped Texas A&M.
Tennessee Baseball @Vol_BaseballSTARK MODE ACTIVATED!!<br><br>BACK PICK 👑<br><br>📺 <a href="https://t.co/dOromFvTCS">https://t.co/dOromFvTCS</a> (ABC)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GBO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GBO</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTH</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCWS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MCWS</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatTAMU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatTAMU</a> <a href="https://t.co/zFON6qg6jJ">pic.twitter.com/zFON6qg6jJ</a>
In the sixth, the Aggies got runners on first and second again, this time with one out. Two flyouts kept Texas A&M at bay.
In the eighth, the Aggies put runners on first and second with two out, but a long fly to left stopped a potential rally.
Finally, in the ninth, the Aggies led the frame with two singles for runners on first and second with no out. A groundout and flyout led to pinch-hitter Ryan Targac getting up with two out. Targac got a good hold of the ball and launched one to right, but the fly ball died at the warning track for the final out.
Aaron Combs got the win for Tennessee in relief, throwing four shutout innings and striking out five while allowing just three baserunners.
Nate Snead picked up the save, getting three straight outs after coming into the game in the ninth with runners on first and second with no out.
Drew Beam started for Tennessee, striking out seven over four frames while allowing three hits, two walks and one run.
Kaiden Wilson took the loss for the Aggies, allowing both home runs.
Tennessee and Texas A&M will now play Game 3 on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. ESPN will televise the game from Charles Schwab Field Omaha. The Aggies initially took a 1-0 series lead on Friday after beating the Vols 9-5.
The winner will secure the school's first-ever CWS title.
