Top-Ranked Vols Topple #6 Noles in CWS Opener With Furious Ninth-Inning Rally

Friday, June 14

Omaha, Neb.

7 PM

University of Tennessee

56-12

Florida State

47-16

Florida State

Tennessee

Top-Ranked Vols Topple #6 Noles in CWS Opener With Furious Ninth-Inning Rally

June 14, 2024 | Baseball

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OMAHA, Neb. – Dylan Dreiling's walk-off single to cap a furious Tennessee rally in the bottom of the ninth, along with a legendary performance from Christian Moore, guided the top-ranked Volunteers to a thrilling 12-11 victory over No. 6 Florida State in their Men's College World Series opener on Friday night at Charles Schwab Field.

Moore became just the second player to ever hit for the cycle in a College World Series game and the first since Minnesota's Jerry Kindall in 1956l.

The Brooklyn, New York, native tied a career-high with five hits and added himself to a list of five other Vols to hit for the cycle, joining Zane Denton (March 10, 2023), Trey Lipscomb (Feb. 25, 2022), Jordan Rodgers (April 1, 2016), Matt Duffy (March 9, 2011) and Chris Burke (May 11, 2001).

The first of Moore's four runs got UT on the board in the bottom of the first inning after he led off with a triple to right center. Moore doubled in his next at-bat before blooping a single into right field in his third plate appearance. He secured the cycle in his fourth at-bat of the day, smashing a 440-foot bomb that was 117 mph off the bat to straightaway center field in the sixth inning.

UT's junior second baseman capped his night with a clutch two-out double to keep the team's ninth-inning rally alive, giving him a career-high five hits, as well.

Dreiling was one of many heroes for the Vols in the win, going 4-for-6, included three RBI singles, marking his 19th multi-RBI performance of the season.

Blake Burke and Kavares Tears also finished with multiple hits for the Big Orange and had some huge hits throughout the night. After FSU had built its lead to 9-4 heading into the fifth inning, Tears' two-run blast to right field put a jolt in the Vols.

Burke, meanwhile, went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-out ninth-inning single on a full count to tie the game at 11 before a Billy Amick single set the stage for Dreiling's walk-off moment.

Nate Snead picked up the win after tossing 2.1 shutout innings of relief, allowing just one hit to keep Tennessee in the game.

The win marked UT's first in a CWS opening game since 1995 and was its first walk-off victory this season. It was also the first time the Vols have won a game this season after entering the ninth inning trailing (previously 0-9).

UP NEXT: After an off day tomorrow, Tennessee will play No. 3/6 North Carolina in Sunday night's winner's bracket game at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The Tar Heels were also walk-off winners on Friday, defeating Virginia, 3-2 in the afternoon game.

STAT OF THE GAME: Moore became the sixth Vol in program history to hit for the cycle and is the third player to do so in the last three seasons. Additionally, Moore became the second player to ever hit for the cycle in a Men's College World Series game, joining Minnesota's Jerry Kindall, who first accomplished the feat in 1956. The Brooklyn, New York, native is the first Vol to ever hit for the cycle during postseason play.