Vols pull off comeback effort to walk it off over Florida State

OMAHA, Neb. (WATE) – Florida State was just three outs away from a day one win in the College World Series when a four-run comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth flipped the script in the Vols favor. With Tennessee’s 12-11 walk-off win, the Vols will now face North Carolina on Sunday.

Florida State got two runners on early in the first with no outs. Max Williams started things off with a single and then Cam Smith drew a four-pitch walk. After James Tibbs advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, Tony Vitello decided Chris Stamos’ day was done.

AJ Causey took over on the mound with runners on the corners and one out. Causey struck out the next batter he faced but Williams scored from third on a wild pitch to give the Seminoles the early 1-0 lead. Daniel Cantu then drew another walk as FSU loaded the bases. Causey got Alex Lodise swinging to leave all three runners stranded.

Christian Moore started things off in the bottom of the inning with a bang, hitting a ball back to the center field wall that was good enough for a triple. Blake Burke then brought Moore home on a single to left to tie the game at one. Billy Amick drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs.

The Vols then took their first lead of the game on a Dylan Dreiling RBI single. Blake Burke slid home from second for the 2-1 advantage with still no outs in the inning. However, the Seminoles got a quick three outs as Hunter Ensley grounded out into a double play and Kavares Tears grounded out to third to end the inning.

FSU threatened in the second with runners on the corners and one out, but Cam Smith grounded out into an inning-ending double play to leave the Vols with the lead.

Tennessee added to its lead in the bottom of the frame. After Dean Curley and Dalton Bargo both struck out for the first two outs, Cal Stark reached first on a walk. Moore followed up with a double and Stark was sent to home from first. FSU catcher Jaxson West had Stark beat, but West dropped the ball and Stark scored to make it 3-1. Moore then scored on a throwing error to extend Tennessee’s lead to 4-1.

The Seminoles answered right back in the third. After back-to-back singles, a Jaime Ferrer 2-RBI double pulled FSU within a run. Things then went from bad to worse as Florida State quickly loaded the bases with no outs, sparking a pitching change for the Vols. Causey’s day was done after just 1.2 innings of work, his second shortest outing of the season.

Kirby Connell took over on the mound and struck out the first batter he faced, but then walked West as FSU tied the game at four. Things went downhill quickly as the Seminoles put up a six-spot in the inning to take a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the inning.

FSU extended its lead to 9-4 in the fourth on a two-run homer from Jaime Ferrer.

The Vols had a prime opportunity to cut the deficit in the fourth, loading the bases with two outs. However, a Billy Amick fly out to center left all three runners stranded and the Vols trailing by five.

Tennessee pulled back within three runs thanks to a two-run shot into the right field stands from Kavares Tears. It marked the junior’s first ever hit in the College World Series after two trips to Omaha.

Christian Moore then brought the Vols within two, thanks to a solo shot in the sixth. After a single, double and triple, that home run made it official. Moore is the just the second player in the history of the College World Series to hit for the cycle. Jerry Kendell accomplished the feat all the way back in 1956. To make matters more impressive, he did in just four at-bats.

The Seminoles then took back their four-run lead in the seventh. Andrew Behnke walked two batters before Marco Dinges hit a two-RBI double to take a 11-7 advantage with two outs. Nate Snead replaced Behnke on the mound and forced a groundout to end the inning.

Tennessee added a run in the eighth on Dylan Dreiling’s third hit of the night. After back-to-back singles from Burke and Amick, Dreiling got one to drop in left to bring home Burke. However, Hunter Ensley grounded out to leave two runners stranded and the Vols trailing by three.

Kavares Tears started off a ninth inning rally with a triple. Dean Curley brought him home on a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to two runs with two outs.

Florida State put together two outs with the Vols still down two runs. Even though Moore already hit for the cycle, his night wasn’t done. A double from the junior put Cannon Peebles in scoring position, and Moore on base. Burke followed Moore in the order, drilling one straight up center field, scoring both Peebles and Moore to tie the game up at 11. A hit from Amick but Burke on second and a single from Dreiling brought the junior in for the walk-off win, 12-11.

The Vols roll on to face North Carolina at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.