Tennessee secured a 6-5 victory over Texas A&M on Monday night in the third game of the championship series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, clinching the College World Series title. A pivotal moment in the game came from Hunter Ensley’s remarkable slide, which proved crucial.
The Volunteers maintained a 3-1 lead for much of the game before extending their advantage with three additional runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Dylan Dreiling kick-started the scoring burst with a two-run homer, pushing the score to 5-1. Shortly after, Ensley singled and was followed by Kavares Tears, who drove a shot off the right-center field wall for a double. While Tears smoothly reached second base, attention turned to Ensley’s attempt to score from first and whether he would evade the Aggies’ relay to home plate.
ESPN announcer Karl Ravech captured the moment perfectly on Monday as the University of Tennessee secured its inaugural NCAA College World Series championship. Pitcher Aaron Combs struck out Texas A&M’s Ted Burton for the final out, securing a narrow 6-5 victory for the Volunteers at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ravech, calling the historic moment, exclaimed, “Swing and a miss! And for the first time, Rocky Top reaches the pinnacle of college baseball! They are the World Series champions!” Following this powerful statement, Ravech wisely paused, allowing the sounds of celebration to fill the broadcast. The camera alternated between scenes of jubilant Tennessee fans, including notable figures like Peyton Manning, and the disappointment visible among the Texas A&M players.
Tennessee had showcased their dominance throughout the season, finishing with an impressive 50-11 record in the regular season. Their postseason performance was equally strong, ending with a 10-2 record and marking the first 60-win campaign since Wichita State’s 1989 title run. Moreover, Tennessee’s victory continued the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) reign in college baseball, with a different SEC team claiming the College World Series title in each of the last five seasons.
