College World Series final score, results: Late homers power Tennessee to Game 2 win vs. Texas A&M

Edward Sutelan

•
College World Series final score, results: Late homers power Tennessee to Game 2 win vs. Texas A&M image

At some point, Tennessee’s luck had to turn.

The No. 1 team in the nation began Sunday’s win-or-go-home game against No. 3 Texas A&M a whopping 0-for-16 with runners on base and 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The opportunities were there. This vaunted lineup just couldn’t capitalize.

Sometimes, all it takes is one swing, and who better to provide that swing than one of the Vols’ hottest hitters, Dylan Dreiling. In the top of the seventh, Dreiling launched a go-ahead, two-run homer to make it a 2-1 game. It was his second straight game with a homer, and it was all the run support Tennessee would need to win as the Volunteers went on to win 4-1 and force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the 2024 College World Series finals.

LIVE: Follow Texas A&M vs. Tennessee updates from 2024 CWS Game 3

There was a feeling early that the narrative for Game 2 would be much the same as Game 1. Just like Game 1, Texas A&M took the lead on a first-inning home run, this time from Jace LaViolette. Just like Game 1, the Volunteers had several early opportunities with runners in scoring position and couldn’t capitalize.

Bases loaded in the second? Groundout. Bases loaded in the fourth? Groundout. Runners on first and second with one out in the sixth? Double play.

On the other side, the Aggies had few opportunities at all. They had a single in the third from Kaeden Kent, but he was immediately picked off. With runners on first and second in the fifth, back-to-back strikeouts and a successful catcher-to-first pickoff got the Volunteers out of the inning. And back-to-back flyouts in the sixth ended a scoring opportunity for Texas A&M with two runners on.

But this vaunted Tennessee lineup could be kept quiet only for so long, and in the top of the seventh, it was Drilling, who had four hits and a homer in Game 1, that blasted the go-ahead, two-run shot.

The Volunteers weren’t done yet as the No. 9 hitter, catcher Cal Stark, snapped an 0-for-16 start in Omaha by hitting a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to extend Tennessee’s lead.

The Aggies had their opportunities, bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the eighth and again in the bottom of the ninth. The Volunteers got out without any runs in the eighth. And in the ninth, with two on and no one out, Nate Snead recorded three straight outs to get out of the jam.

MORE: Watch the College World Series live with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Sunday's contest between the Volunteers and Aggies, the second game of the College World Series final. Follow below for highlights and more as two of college baseball's best clubs attempt to step one foot closer to a national title.

Tennessee vs. Texas A&M baseball score

 123456789F
Tennessee0000002204
Texas A&M1000000001

Tennessee vs. Texas A&M live updates, highlights from College World Series final

(All times Eastern)

5:47 p.m. End of game: Targac hits it deep to right, but it's caught on the warning track by Tears to end the game. This series is going to three games.

5:43 p.m.: Kent flies out to left, and it's not deep enough to score Burton from third. Two away with Ryan Targac stepping up to the plate.

5:42 p.m.: Wild play at second as Camarillo hits a bouncer to second, where it's fielded by Ariel Antigua, who tags Sorrell on the bases. The two collide when Sorrell slides, and Antigua has to go back for the tag but completes it. He has no chance of turning the double play, however. One out with Kaeden Kent coming up.

5:37 p.m.: One batter, one hit for Connell. Tennessee is turning to Nate Snead.

5:36 p.m.: Sorrell goes opposite-field with a base hit. Camarillo comes up to the plate as the tying run with nobody out.

5:30 p.m.: Burton leads off the bottom of the ninth by pulling a single through the left side. That will end the afternoon for Combs with Kirby Connell coming in to face Sorrell.

5:27 p.m. End top ninth: Two straight groundouts from Amick and Dreiling to end the top of the ninth. The Volunteers will head to the bottom of the ninth leading by three.

5:23 p.m.: Burke goes down swinging at a high fastball for the first out.

5:21 p.m.: Weston Moss comes in to face Burke and the heart of the Tennessee order in the top of the ninth.

5:19 p.m. End of eighth: Combs gets out of trouble as Schott flies out to left-center. The Aggies are down to their final three outs.

5:17 p.m.: Appel walks on four pitches, and just like that, the tying run will come to the plate in the form of Schott.

5:14 p.m.: LaViolette has now been on base in all four plate appearances as he pulls a base hit under the glove of Burke into right for a single.

5:12 p.m.: Grahovac gets under a high offering from Combs and lifts it to right for a flyout. LaViolette coming up with two outs.

5:11 p.m.: Hank Bard pinch hits for Chestnut, and immediately grounds out to second to start the bottom of the eighth.

5:09 p.m. End top eighth: Moore nearly leaves the yard to right, but it doesn't quite have enough behind it and it's caught at the warning track.

5:02 p.m. Tennessee scoring play: The No. 9 hitter finally gets his first hit in Omaha, and it's a big one. Stark sends a no-doubt, two-run blast to left field to extend Tennessee's lead. That will chase Wilson with Brock Peery coming in for Texas A&M. Tennessee 4, Texas A&M 1

4:59 p.m.: Peebles strikes out swinging for the second out of the inning.

4:57 p.m.: Curley lines a base hit into the left-center gap.

4:55 p.m.: Tears' tough day at the plate continues as he strikes out swinging at a fastball, going down on three pitches. That's his third strikeout of the day.

4:51 p.m. End of seventh: Kent lifts a fly ball to left, but Dreiling is under it to make the catch to end the inning. The Aggies came into the seventh needing nine outs to win a title. They are now down to their last six outs to avoid Game 3.

4:51 p.m.: Two swinging strikeouts start the bottom of the seventh with Combs fanning Camarillo with the curve.

4:49 p.m.: Combs starts the bottom of the seventh with a swinging strikeout of Sorrell on a curveball.

4:45 p.m. End top seventh: The frame ends two pitches after the home run as Ensley flies out to shallow right.

4:44 p.m. Tennessee scoring play: That's how the team snaps an 0-for-16 day with runners on base. Dreiling blasts a 94 mph fastball to the right-field seats over the bullpen for a go-ahead, two-run homer. That's his 22nd home run of the season and second straight game with a long ball. Just like that, the Volunteers have taken the lead. Tennessee 2, Texas A&M 1

4:43 p.m.: Trainers come out to look at Moore at second, but he's staying in the game. The next pitch, Amick flies out to right. 

4:41 p.m.: Some aggressive baserunning by the Volunteers as Moore tags up from first and gets to second on a flyout to center.

4:37 p.m.: Moore works the walk to lead off the inning.

4:35 p.m.: Tennessee with a strange challenge, asking if Moore was hit by a pitch. The pitch wasn't close to hitting him. It doesn't take long for the call to be confirmed.

4:30 p.m. End of sixth: Burton makes solid contact and hits a liner to right, but Tears makes the grab to end the inning.

4:29 p.m.: Schott hits a deep fly to center that chases Ensley to the warning track, but he makes the catch. LaViolette moves up to third to set runners up at the corners and two away.

4:28 p.m.: Appel drops a base hit into right just in front of Tears. Schott coming up to bat with runners on first and second.

4:26 p.m.: LaViolette draws his second walk of the day to bring Appel up with a runner on and one out.

4:24 p.m.: Grahovac swings and misses at a breaking ball away to start the bottom of the sixth.

4:19 End top sixth: Tennessee simply cannot get anything done with runners on base right now. The Volunteers are 0-for-14 with runners on base as Stark grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.

4:15 p.m.: And Cortez's day is done. Kaiden Wilson coming in for the Aggies.

4:13 p.m.: Curley moves up to second on a wild pitch, but it ends up a moot point a pitch later when Peebles walks on four pitches. That's now five walks for Cortez who has now thrown 99 pitches. Stark due up with Moore looming in the on-deck circle.

4:12 p.m.: Curley drives a single into right past the glove of Kent. Cortez is up to 95 pitches.

4:09 p.m.: Tears appeared to swing and miss at a pitch, but it was ruled a foul. Two pitches later, he undoubtedly swings and misses for the strikeout.

4:05 p.m. End of fifth: Another successful challenge for the Volunteers on a pickoff. Stark fires over to Burke to nab Camarillo leaning off the bag. 

4:01 p.m.: Back-to-back strikeouts for Combs, who gets Chestnut to swing through a curveball.

3:59 p.m.: Three Tennessee fielders nearly make a snag on a Kent popfly in foul territory, but it drops just at the edge of the dugout. The next pitch, he strikes out swinging at a curveball from Combs.

3:54 p.m.: Nine-pitch battle between Beam and Camarillo ends with a walk. Beam's afternoon is over as Aaron Combs comes in to face Kent with runners on first and second with no one out.

3:48 p.m.: Sorrell beats out a chopper to shortstop to reach for a leadoff single.

3:44 p.m. End top fifth: Ensley hits a liner right at Sorrell in left for the third out.

3:42 p.m.: Back-to-back strikeouts start the top of the fifth as Dreiling swings over a 99 mph fastball. That's six punchouts for Cortez.

3:41 p.m.: Amick fouls off four straight in a nine-pitch at-bat, but it ends with him being unable to check his swing on a slider off the plate for the strikeout.

3:35 p.m. End of fourth: Burton hits a comebacker to Beam, who throws the ball to first to end the inning. He's at 63 pitches through four innings.

3:34 p.m.: Impressive diving snag by Burke to field a sharp grounder off the bat of Schott. He makes the throw to second to get LaViolette for the fielder's choice.

3:33 p.m.: Appel flies out to shallow left for the first out.

3:31 p.m.: LaViolette lays off a breaking ball that doesn't bend all the way back to the outside edge of the zone.

3:26 p.m. End top fourth: Another missed opportunity for the Volunteers as Burke is barely thrown out on a checked-swing grounder to second. Tennessee is 0-for-13 hitting today with runners on base and 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. 

3:24 p.m.: Moore walks on four pitches, the fourth walk issued today by Cortez. Burke will bat with the bases loaded and two away.

3:22 p.m.: Stark strikes out swinging at a slider cutting down and away for the second out. Back to the top of the order with Moore coming up to bat.

3:21 p.m.: Make it three walks for Cortez as Peebles lays off a slider that can't quite hit the outside part of the zone on a 3-2 count for the walk. Runners on first and second for Stark.

3:19 p.m.: Curley flies out to right.

3:17 p.m.: Stop if you've heard this before: the Volunteers have a leadoff baserunner. Tears ropes a single through the right side of the infield. 

3:13 p.m. End of third: Grahovac fans at a slider away for Beam's seventh strikeout. He's giving the Volunteers some strong pitching so far through the first three innings.

3:12 p.m.: Beam picks up his sixth strikeout of the day as Chestnut is caught looking at a slider that paints the low, outside corner.

3:10 p.m.: Great move by Beam to first on a pickoff, and after a review, Kent is ruled out.

3:08 p.m.: Kent stays hot, blooping a 2-1 fastball into shallow right for a single. That ball had an exit velocity of 58.5 mph.

3:05 p.m. End top third: Another masterful strikeout by Cortez as he gets Ensley to chase a slider down and away for the three-pitch punchout.

3:03 p.m.: Cortez fields the comebacker back to the mound and throws to second. The toss is a bit wide of left, but Camarillo keeps the foot on the bag for the fielder's choice, though he has no chance to turn the double play.

3:01 p.m.: Amick watches 101 paint the outside edge of the zone for a called strikeout.

2:59 p.m.: Five-pitch walk to Burke leads off the top of the third for Tennessee.

2:56 p.m. End of second: Filthy work from the likely early 2024 MLB Draft pick Beam as he strikes out the side, ending the frame with a swinging strikeout of Camarillo on a 96 mph heater.

2:55 p.m.: Make it back-to-back strikeouts as Beam drops a slider into the zone to catch Sorrell looking. He's up to four strikeouts already today.

2:53 p.m.: Beam gets Burton swinging at a breaker down and away for the strikeout.

2:49 p.m. End top second: Moore puts a filthy 101 mph fastball into play, but it's fielded for a groundout to second to end the inning. Another missed scoring opportunity for the Volunteers.

2:47 p.m.: The Aggies should be out of the inning. Instead, what looked like a groundout to short by Stark turned into a low throw that Burton couldn't scoop. Bases now loaded for Moore, Tennessee's best hitter.

2:46 p.m.: Four pitch walk to Peebles gives Tennessee runners on first and second with two out. 

2:44 p.m.: Curley swings at the 3-2 slider and lifts it into center, where it's handled by Chestnut.

2:41 p.m.: Tears goes down swinging at a 99 mph fastball away for the first out.

2:38 p.m.: One inning and one batter is all Badmaev will have today. Chris Cortez is coming in to pitch for the Aggies.

2:36 p.m.: Ensley lines a base hit into center to lead off the top of the second. Back-to-back innings that the Volunteers have had a leadoff single. 

2:34 p.m. End of first: Beam catches Schott looking for the strikeout to end the top of the first.

2:30 p.m.: Appel strikes out swinging at a 94 mph two-seamer.

2:29 p.m. Texas A&M scoring play: That's one way to break out of a cold spell. LaViollete crushes a fastball from Beam 415 feet into the right-field seats. That ball left the bat at 111.5 mph. And for the second straight game, a first-inning home run gives Texas A&M an early lead. Texas A&M 1, Tennessee 0

2:26 p.m.: An eight-pitch at-bat starts the bottom half of the first, ending with a pop out to second off the bat of Grahovac.

2:19 p.m. End top first: Dreiling swings and misses at a changeup from Badmaev for a strikeout to end the inning. The Volunteers went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position in Saturday's loss, and are already starting off 0-for-1 today.

2:16 p.m.: The Volunteers start Moore from first on a 3-2 count, and he successfully steals second as Amick goes down looking at a breaker that bends right into the middle of the zone. Dreiling will come up to bat with a runner in scoring position and two out.

2:12 p.m.: Burke crushes a liner to left, but Sorrell has him played perfectly in front of the warning track to make the catch.

2:11 p.m.: Nice start for Tennessee as Moore lines a breaker from Badmaev back up the middle for a leadoff single.

2:10 p.m.: The first pitch of the game from Badmaev is a ball down and away to Moore.

2 p.m.: Just about time for Game 2. Texas A&M can win it all. Tennessee has to win to keep championship dreams alive.

1:45 p.m.: In perhaps the most important battle of the weekend, Texas A&M has surpassed Tennessee for the lead in the Jell-O Shot Challenge. The Volunteers have led for much of the challenge, but a Game 1 win appears to have helped the Aggies surge into the lead.

1:15 p.m.: Here's a look at the lineups for Saturday's game.

Tennessee

  1. Christian Moore, 2B
  2. Blake Burke, 1B
  3. Billy Amick, 3B
  4. Dylan Dreiling, LF
  5. Hunter Ensley, CF
  6. Kavares Tears, RF
  7. Dean Curley, SS
  8. Cannon Peebles, DH
  9. Cal Stark, C

P: Drew Beam

Texas A&M

  1. Gavin Grahovac, 3B
  2. Jace LaViolette, RF
  3. Jackson Appel, C
  4. Hayden Schott, DH
  5. Ted Burton, 1B
  6. Caden Sorrell, LF
  7. Ali Camarillo, SS
  8. Kaeden Kent, 2B
  9. Travis Chestnut, CF

P: Zane Badmaev

How to watch Tennessee vs. Texas A&M

  • Start time: 2 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: ABC
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

Tennessee vs. Texas A&M will be carried on ABC. Those hoping to stream the game can find it on ESPN+ or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

College World Series schedule

Saturday, June 22

GameResult
CWS Finals Game 1Texas A&M X, Tennessee X

Sunday, June 23

GameMatchup/ResultTime (ET)TV channel
CWS Finals Game 2Tennessee vs. Texas A&M2 p.m.ABC, Fubo

Monday, June 24

GameMatchup/ResultTime (ET)TV channel
*CWS Finals Game 3Texas A&M vs. Tennessee7 p.m.ESPN, Fubo

*If necessary

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.