WATCH: Tennessee baseball ties record with 35 home runs in single NCAA tournament
Tony Vitello's Tennessee beat Texas A&M 4-1 in Game 2 of the College World Series finals on Sunday, to force a deciding Game 3 for the national title. En route to their comeback victory, the Vols became only the second team to hit 35 home runs in a season across the NCAA postseason.
Cal Stark blasted the Vols' record-setting two-run home run in the eighth inning after Dylan Dreiling's two-run homer in the seventh. Notably, Stark was 0-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the College World Series before smashing his first homer against the Aggies.
Here's a look at the moment Stark hit his home run to eventually seal the win for the Vols:
Since the Vols forced a Game 3 in the CWS finals, they can further extend their home run record in Monday's game against the Aggies.
After winning Game 2 and leveling the series, Tennessee coach Tony Vitello spoke about the drama of the CWS finals and how the two teams from the SEC have been giving it their all for the national title.
"It was an SEC war, or just a postseason war. And in that situation, if you had your druthers, you’d like to have the last at-bat because you know the ninth inning is going to be full of drama." Vitello said.
"But I think our kids kept their composure in that ninth inning including Ariel in a real tough play. You don’t want to see anyone get hurt there. But it was a do-or-die deal where you couldn’t shy away. You had to make a decision what you were going to do."
Tennessee will want to win first national title in program history
Tennessee saw its incredible postseason run briefly fall off track after losing Game 1 of the CWS finals against Texas A&M. However, Tony Vitello's team has bounced back in Game 2 with all to play for in the series decider on Monday.
Notably, this is the first time that the Vols are playing in the CWS finals since 1951. They have never won the national title but will aim for glory when they square off against the Aggies in the deciding Game 3 of the series.