NASHVILLE SUPER REGIONAL
VANDERBILT 12, STANFORD 5
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Vanderbilt Commodores weren't quite sure what to think of themselves a few weeks ago.
They entered the NCAA Tournament having lost six of their last 11, but thanks to some fresh faces and some big victories, Vanderbilt is riding high and headed to the College World Series.
Vince Conde and John Norwood had three hits and two RBI each and Vanderbilt combined for six runs in the seventh and eighth innings to beat Stanford 12-5 Sunday to advance to Omaha for the second time in program history and first since 2011.
"It was amazing," said freshman Hayden Stone, who pitched six innings and allowed three hits to close the game and earn the victory. "Just the opportunity to be out there in that certain time. Just daydreamed about it all the time. I'm glad I got to accomplish that."
Corbin credited Bryan Reynolds, a freshman all-American, and fellow freshmen Stone and catcher Jason Delay for their vital roles Sunday.
"You look at three of the key components today: freshmen," he said. "Those kids do not act like freshman. They haven't been here very long, but they fit in nicely."
Reynolds finished 8-for-12 in the three-game series.
Corbin, who is in his 12th year guiding the Commodores, said his players have developed into a team as of late.
"I think what's happened with the kids is that they developed an identity," he said. "As I told them before the SEC tournament, it's never too late, it's never too late to develop into a team and not because we're winning, but I think that the personalities are starting to grow together a little bit more than the beginning of the year and the middle of the year."
Stone finished with 8 strikeouts, 2 walks and was charged with 2 unearned run. He entered in the fourth after Vanderbilt starter Walker Buehler battled through the bottom of the third, giving up four runs. The Commodores had opened with five runs off six hits in the first, but Buehler's struggles allowed the Cardinal to pull within 5-4.
"They have great arms and they throw a lot of strikes and it's tough," Stanford Coach Mark Marquess said. "What you get off them, you've got to earn it. You don't usually get a lot of them."
LUBBOCK
TEXAS TECH 1,
COLL. OF CHARLESTON 0
LUBBOCK, Texas Dylan Dusek turned in his fourth consecutive scoreless start and Texas Tech advanced to the College World Series for the first time with a victory over the College of Charleston.
Dusek (8-0) worked 5-plus innings, gave up 3 hits and walked 1 as Texas Tech (45-20) swept the best-of-3 series with back-to-back 1-0 triumphs over the Cougars. Cameron Smith, Dominic Moreno and Jonny Drozd combined to work the final four innings for the Red Raiders.
Adam Kirsch's RBI double in the fourth inning was the game's lone run. It marked the Raiders' third consecutive shutout in the postseason and fourth in their past five outings.
Bailey Ober (10-3) took the loss for College of Charleston (44-19), scattering six hits in eight innings.
The game was delayed 90 minutes at the start by lightning and rain.
The Cougars pushed the tying run to second base in the sixth and seventh innings, but Tech withstood the threat each time, needing a spectacular diving catch from center fielder Devon Conley in the right-center field gap that preserved Tech's lead and ended the seventh.
In the fourth, Tyler Neslony led off with a single to center. With one out, Kirsch laced a double down the right-field line that brought Neslony home.
CHARLOTTESVILLE
VIRGINIA 7, MARYLAND 3
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Kenny Towns had three hits, Artie Lewicki pitched 3 1/3 innings of solid relief and Virginia beat Maryland to force the deciding game of the super regional.
The Cavaliers (48-14) had 17 hits, including four in a decisive seventh inning as they sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs. Towns, Derek Fisher and Brandon Downes came through with RBI.
Lewicki relieved starter Brandon Waddell (9-3) with two outs and runners at first and second base in the sixth. The right-hander left those runners stranded and then retired seven consecutive until the ninth inning.
Maryland starter Mike Shawaryn (11-4) gave up five runs on a season-high 12 hits. The Terrapins (40-22) got three hits and an RBI from Brandon Lowe.
Game 3 is today.
FORT WORTH
PEPPERDINE 3, TCU 2
FORT WORTH -- Aaron Brown pitched seven scoreless innings and made a game-saving throw from center field as Pepperdine beat TCU, forcing a deciding third game for a spot in the College World Series.
Brandon Caruso had a pair of RBI hits and Hutton Moyer scored twice for the Waves (43-17).
Brown (13-1), the two-way player who was the West Coast Conference pitcher of the year and a third-round pick by Philadelphia on Friday, won his 10th consecutive decision. The lefty scattered 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks while throwing 119 pitches against TCU (46-16).
After Brown went to center field, his strong throw home cut off the tying run to end the eighth inning.
Game 3 is tonight.
Sports on 06/09/2014