For the first time in school history, the Tennessee Volunteers are the champions of college baseball. In a thrilling conclusion to the College World Series, Tennessee edged out Texas A&M with a nail-biting 6-5 victory in Game 3 of the championship round.
Early Action and Key Plays
Christian Moore set the tone for Tennessee early, electrifying fans with a home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Texas A&M responded in the third inning, leveling the score at 1-1. However, it wasn’t long before the Volunteers capitalized on opportunities to regain the lead.
Travis Chestnut bunted his way on base and advanced to second on an error, before stealing third to put himself in scoring position. Gavin Grahovic then delivered a clutch single, allowing Chestnut to score. The inning's momentum continued as Blake Burke powered a double and later crossed home plate thanks to a sacrifice fly from Dylan Dreiling.
By the time the inning concluded, Tennessee had built a 3-1 lead, with pivotal contributions from Hunter Ensley, Kavares Tears, and Dean Curley, who drove home an additional run.
Seventh-Inning Surge and Texas A&M's Rally
The game-breaking moment came in the bottom of the seventh inning when Dreiling launched a two-run home run. Shortly after, Tears doubled home Ensley, pushing Tennessee's lead to a seemingly comfortable 6-1.
Yet, Texas A&M was far from finished. The Aggies mustered a late-game rally, scoring two runs in the eighth inning and adding two more in a tense ninth inning. Despite the Aggies closing the gap to 6-5, Tennessee's reliever Kirby Connell showcased remarkable composure, striking out two batters in the eighth to mitigate further damage. Ultimately, the Volunteers held on to clinch their historic victory.
Pitching Prowess and Tournament Journey
Key to Tennessee's triumph was the outstanding performance by starter Zander Sechrist. Pitching 5 1/3 innings, Sechrist allowed only one run while striking out seven and walking just one batter. His resilience on the mound provided the Volunteers with the foundation they needed to secure the win.
The Volunteers entered the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and hosted a regional where they outscored their opponents—Northern Kentucky, Indiana, and Southern Mississippi—by a cumulative 33-15 margin. Their journey continued with a decisive Game 3 win in the Super Regional against Evansville, concluding with a commanding 12-1 score.
In the College World Series, Tennessee navigated a challenging bracket. They emerged victorious against Florida State twice (12-11 and 7-2) and defeated North Carolina 6-1. Even after dropping Game 1 of the finals and initially trailing 1-0 in Game 2, the Volunteers rallied to win 4-1, thanks to a late scoring surge in the seventh and eighth innings. Remarkably, Tennessee finished with an undefeated 3-0 record in elimination games.
A Historic Milestone
Christian Moore not only contributed to the Volunteers' Game 3 victory with his opening home run but also made history during Tennessee's CWS-opening win over Florida State by hitting for the second cycle in College World Series history.
For Texas A&M, the journey to the final was notable, especially given the absence of their top hitter, Braden Montgomery, due to a leg injury. Despite losing their offensive powerhouse, the Aggies managed to reach the finals and secure a Game 1 win with a 9-5 score. However, Tennessee's resilience and depth ultimately proved too much to overcome.
The 2019 College World Series culminated on June 24 with Tennessee's dramatic 6-5 victory, cementing a momentous achievement in the Volunteers' storied baseball history. As the players celebrated their hard-fought triumph, the significance of their first national title resonated throughout the college baseball landscape, marking the Tennessee Volunteers' ascension to the pinnacle of the sport.