Following Tennessee baseball’s 5-1 loss to Oklahoma on day two of the college baseball season, left fielder Dylan Dreiling met with the media to share his thoughts on the loss.
Dreiling was a key player in the game and a significant reason Tennessee was able to be tied with Oklahoma at 1-1 at the end of regulation.
Dreiling smoked a 441-foot home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie things up at one run apiece. Dreiling’s solo blast marked the first of his young sophomore season.
Additionally, Dreiling flashed the leather out in left field, making a diving catch in the top of the fourth that prevented an RBI double.
If it weren’t for Dreiling’s home run and diving catch, the Sooners could’ve easily won the game by 2-4 runs in regulation.
However, Dreiling did fail to catch a fly ball in the 10th inning that resulted in an RBI double that gave Oklahoma a 2-1 lead. Dreiling attempted to make the catch but was not in a good enough position as the ball ricocheted off the top of his glove and went deeper into left center field. The Sooners would go on to score three more runs in the 10th to take a 5-1 lead, which was the final score.
Dreiling discussed what happened with the 10th-inning play, his home run, his diving catch, and more from an eventful four-hour game in Globe Life Field.
What the sophomore star outfielder said is below.
On Oklahoma’s pitchers being so effective:
“I think just second game of the year, to see good arms like that — I mean, it’s a regional, Super-Regional atmosphere. It’s tough to come out and play in that for the first time and I think that played a huge part.”
On his diving catch in left field:
“I kind of feel like I got a bad jump. I thought it was hit better in the gap, so just making an adjustment and coming in and trying to make a play to help us win a game.”
If it’s good to have that Regional/Super Regional feel to a game this early in the year:
“Oh it’s huge for us. It was cool to see some guys get their first experience of college baseball. It hurts now, but it’s going to be a huge, huge learning experience for us in the future.”
More From RTI: WATCH: Tony Vitello, Dylan Dreiling React to Oklahoma Loss
On his home run:
“My first at-bat, he was throwing me up in the zone and I was just trying to make an adjustment, see it down in the zone and get a pitch I can hit.
If he could tell it was going to travel 441-feet off the bat:
“No, but I knew I got it. Enough of it I least.”
On the ball he was unable to catch in the 10th inning that allowed Oklahoma to take the lead:
“I was really just trying to go catch the ball and help my team win. It hit my glove. Catchable ball. Learning experience.”
On Cal Stark behind the plate:
“I thought he looked good back there. It was cool to see him get back out there.”
On Oklahoma starter Brendan Girton:
“I thought we were just a little antsy, chasing pitches up, chasing sliders in the dirt, so, again, comes with second game of the year. Just trying to get back out here and get more comfortable.”
On Oklahoma reliever Kyson Witherspoon:
“I thought they were almost the same guy honestly. The second guy had a better slider I thought, but overall, it was a very similar look.”
On Zander Sechrist starting on Sunday against Baylor:
“It’s awesome. It’s really cool and fun playing behind guys that throw strikes because you’re not just gonna be there standing there. They’re going to make you work and that’s fun.”
What’s key to a strong finish on Sunday:
“Just keeping that self-confidence. Coming off a tough loss, just bouncing back, keeping the same mentality and go get a win.”
