Dreams keep becoming realities for the nation’s top-ranked college baseball team.
Producing Tennessee’s most dramatic moments so far in this memorable season, Christian Moore hit a two-run single with two out in the ninth inning and launched a two-run home run in the 11th to rally the Volunteers to a 6-4 victory over Florida in Gainesville on Sunday afternoon to complete their fifth Southeastern Conference series sweep in six opportunities. The Vols improved to 37-3 overall and became the first SEC squad ever to start 17-1 in league play, topping Tennessee’s 1951 team that finished 16-1 in conference contests.
“It felt amazing,” Moore said when asked about the deciding homer to left-center field. “Being in a close game in the 11th – it’s something you dream about as a kid, to hit the go-ahead home run. I put a good swing on a fastball. It went over, and I got to celebrate with my teammates.”
Moore also got to celebrate with coach Tony Vitello, who on Sunday returned from his NCAA four-game suspension for bumping an umpire during last weekend’s series against visiting Alabama. Tennessee had been impressive under hitting coach Josh Elander, waxing Alabama, Bellarmine and Florida twice by the combined score of 35-9.
The Vols prevailed Sunday despite being held hitless through six innings.