OMAHA, Neb. − Hunter Ensley barreled round third base, his injured hamstring carrying him towards the plate and Tennessee baseball glory.
The Vols outfielder ripped previous the tag from Texas A&M catcher Jackson Appel to faucet the plate together with his left hand and ripped his helmet from his head. He emphatically signaled protected, hurling the helmet towards the backstop, and the celebration commenced Monday.
Tennessee triumphed.
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The Vols are the nationwide champions for the primary time in program historical past, successful 6-5 towards Texas A&M (53-15) at Charles Schwab Area and reaching the very best mark of their outstanding rise below coach Tony Vitello.
Tennessee (60-13) is the primary No. 1 nationwide seed to win the nationwide title since 1999 and is the primary 60-win SEC crew in historical past. It’s UT’s first nationwide title in a crew sport since girls’s indoor observe and subject in 2009 with Ensley’s candy slide offering the successful run.
Dylan Dreiling was one of the best participant within the Faculty World Sequence
Dylan Dreiling turn into the primary participant in CWS historical past to homer in all three video games of the ultimate sequence. He hit a two-run homer within the seventh inning of every sport. He was named the MVP of the CWS.
The sophomore slugged the go-ahead two-run homer Sunday to maintain Tennessee’s season alive then offered cushion with a two-run shot Monday for a 5-1 lead. Dreiling had 13 hits within the CWS with three homers and 11 RBIs.
Zander Sechrist capped his profession effectively
Tennessee starter Zander Sechrist fired a fastball for strike three on Texas A&M’s Gavin Grahovac to strike out the facet. Sechrist reduce free leaving the sector, screaming and flailing his arms to the Tennessee crowd.
He struck out seven in 5⅓ and allowed on run on six hits with one stroll.
The senior started his profession as a midweek pitcher. He ended his profession with begins that gained Tennessee an SEC regular-season title, a regional title, a brilliant regional title, a berth within the CWS ultimate, and a nationwide title.
Kirby Connell pitched out of hassle
Texas A&M reduce Tennessee’s result in 6-3 within the eighth earlier than Vitello turned to reliever Kirby Connell. Connell received back-to-back strikeouts to flee a two-on, one-out menace.
Extra Tennessee baseball protection
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Mike Wilson covers College of Tennessee athletics. Electronic mail him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and observe him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you happen to take pleasure in Mike’s protection, think about a digital subscription that may permit you entry to all of it