OMAHA, Neb. — The Texas A&M Aggies could not bounce back from a game two loss Monday, falling just short of a comeback in game three of the College World Series to the Tennessee Volunteers 5-6.
The win marks the first College World Series championship for the Vols in program history. This is Tennessee's second CWS Finals appearance, the first coming in 1951, where the team lost to Oklahoma.
It was also Texas A&M's first appearance in the College World Series finals. With Tennessee's win, a Texas team will not have won the CWS in two decades.
Since 2014, only nine College World Series champions have been universities outside of the Southeastern Conference: Oregon State, Coastal Carolina and Virginia.
The Volunteers now have the fifth-straight title from a school in the SEC. The previous winners are LSU (2023), Ole Miss (2022), Mississippi State (2021) and Vanderbilt (2019).
Here's a recap of game three of the 2024 College World Series:
It was another great match between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers.
The Vols struck first with a home run from junior infielder Christian Moore in Tennessee's first at-bat of the game.
The Aggies tied up the game in the third after a good sequence from senior Travis Chestnut, who stole third before getting batted in by freshman Gavin Grahovac.
However, the tie did not last long. In the bottom of the third, the Vols scored two runs.
Tennessee held that lead, partially off a strong pitching performance from senior Zander Sechrist, who threw seven strikeouts in five innings.
Texas A&M's defense seemed to crumble in the bottom of the seventh. Vols junior Billy Amick singled off a left center hit, and "Mr. Clutch" Dylan Dreiling hit a two-run homer to bring the lead to 5-1.
But, the Vols weren't done scoring that inning. Kavares Tears hit a double into center field, allowing Hunter Ensley to score off a flashy slide into home plate.
The Aggies offense got back into playing form at the top of the eighth. Senior Jackson Appel got a single to start off the inning, and made his way to third off back-to-back wild pitches.
Appel then scored off an up-the-middle single from Hayden Schott. Schott then scored off a double from freshman outfielder Caden Sorrell, cutting the Vols lead down to three.
Tennessee then locked in. Coach Tony Vitello subbed in beloved fifth-year relief pitcher Kirby Connell. Connell closed out the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
At the top of the ninth, A&M kept things interesting. Gavin Grahovac hit a double, and then made his way to third off a wild pitch. He was then batted in by Jackson Appel. Appel then advanced to second, then to third off a balk before scoring off another wild pitch, bringing the score to 5-6.
But the comeback fell short. Redshirt junior Aaron Combs' final pitch was a strike; the nail in the coffin for the Aggies championship hopes.
