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Tennessee rides Christian Moore’s heroics to comeback walk-off vs. Florida State
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Tennessee appeared headed for disaster in its College World Series opener after a horrific 3rd inning vs. Florida State. Fortunately, the Vols rallied from a 9-4 hole, continually battling back all the way.
After entering the 8th inning with a 4-run deficit, Tennessee pushed a run across to make it 11-8 and set the stage for a dramatic 9th inning. A quick triple and sacrifice fly would make it 11-9 Tennessee, and the inning eventually swung with another key at-bat from Christian Moore.
After previously compiling the first cycle at the MCWS since the 1950s, Moore delivered a double in the 9th inning as the tying run. Blake Burke would eventually drive in the game-tying run, 2 pitches after a questionable check swing call that would have ended the game.
A single by Billy Amick would lead to another pitching change and bring Dylan Dreiling to the plate with the game tied at 11-all. Here’s how that at-bat went down:
DYLAN CLUTCH DREILING WALKS IT OFF!!!!!
VOLS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/lHcMQxTZ9U
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) June 15, 2024
NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, MA, KS, KY, LA, TN, NC, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Along with Friday’s Game 1 ending in a walk-off, this is the first time in MCWS that the first 2 games have both ended in walk-off fashion. Vance Honeycutt sent North Carolina to the winner’s bracket with a walk-off single vs. Virginia.
Now, the Tar Heels and Vols will square off in the winner’s bracket on Sunday with the game set for 7 pm ET on ESPN2. Florida State and Virginia will begin Sunday’s action with an elimination game set for 2 pm on ESPN.
While the Vols walk away as winners, there is plenty to clean up for Tennessee heading into the weekend. The pitching staff walked 9 batters, and the defense in the field was not up to par. Tennessee committed 3 errors, including 2 in a disastrous 3rd inning that saw the Seminoles plate 6 runs.
Moore was the big hero of the night, keeping Tennessee afloat early and powering the comeback late with 5 hits and 4 runs, including 4 extra-base hits for the Vols. Blake Burke and Dylan Dreiling led the Vols with 3 RBI apiece.
Florida State was led by 3 hits from Marco Dinges while Jaime Ferrer was 2-for-4 with a home run and a double while driving in 4 runs.
Florida State built leads of 9-4 and 11-7 in the eventual defeat, but the lead could have been even bigger if not for a disappointing night at the plate from James Tibbs III. Tennessee’s pitching staff kept Tibbs in check as he went 1-for-6 in the game, including 4 strikeouts in the middle of the Seminole lineup.
If FSU wants to avoid elimination, Tibbs will need to come to life at the plate and do some damage.
21+ and present in NY, NJ, PA, CT, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NH, OH, OR, TN, VA, WV, WY. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
