OMAHA, Nebraska — Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore became just the second player in Men's College World Series history to hit for the cycle on Friday night.
He completed the cycle in the sixth inning, when he hit a 440-foot home run to almost center field, cutting Florida State's lead to 9-7. Minnesota's Jerry Kindall hit for the cycle in 1956 against Mississippi.
Moore, a junior, tripled to right-center field in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first, doubled in the second and singled in the fourth.
Moore pointed to the sky just before touching home plate. According to ESPN Stats & Information, his home run had an exit velocity of 117 mph and a launch angle of 18 degrees. He is the sixth volunteer in school history to complete the cycle. It was his 33rd home run of the season, tied for third in SEC history.
He doubled in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Tennessee trailed 11-9, and scored the tying run in a 12-11 victory. After the game, he told ESPN's Kris Budden that he passed out during that last hit and that he didn't know he had hit for the cycle until after the fact.
“No idea,” he told Budden. “He was so closeted… It was crazy, man. I feel very blessed to be in this situation.
“It's surreal. I'm like speechless.”
