Vanderbilt vs. Virginia: Wednesday's inning-by-inning
Vanderbilt's hopes of back-to-back national titles fell short Wednesday evening as the Commodores dropped a 4-2 decision to Virginia in the third and deciding game of the College World Series best-of-three. Virginia avenged last year's CWS finals loss to the Commodores with the national title. Vanderbilt led 2-0 after the first inning, but a two-run homer by Virginia's Pavin Smith in the fourth tied the game. Virginia then scored solo runs in the fifth and seventh, while holding Vandy scoreless the final eight innings. Walker Buehler lasted just 3 1/3 innings, with the loss going to John Kilichowski. Rhett Wiseman doubled and scored a run to lead Vanderbilt, which finished 51-21. Virginia finished 44-24.
LINEUPS
Virginia (visitor): Haseley CF, Pinero SS, Thaiss C, Towns 3B, Smith 1B, Coman DH, McCarthy RF, Doherty LF, Clement 2B. P-Waddell.
Vanderbilt (home): Reynolds CF, Wiseman RF, Swanson SS, Wiel 1B, Toffey 3B, Kendall LF, Pfeifer DH, Delay C, Campbell 2B. P-Buehler.
FIRST INNING
Virginia: Haseley singled to center field. Pinero singled to right field (Haseley to second). Thaiss grounded out to second base (Haseley to third, Pinero to second). Towns struck out swinging. Smith walked. Coman flied out to center field.
(0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors).
Vanderbilt: Reynolds walked. Wiseman doubled to deep left field (Reynolds to third). Swanson grounded out to third (Reynolds scored, Wiseman to third). Wiel doubled to deep left (Wiseman scored). Toffey grounded out to first base. Kendall grounded out to first base.
(2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors).
SECOND INNING
Virginia: McCarthy struck out looking. Doherty grounded out to third base. Clement struck out looking.
(0 runs 0 hits, 0 errors).
Vanderbilt: Murfree batting for Pfeifer. Murfree grounded out to third base. Delay flied out to left field. Campbell struck out swinging.
(0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors)
THIRD INNING
Virginia: Haseley walked. Pinero reached on fielder's choice (second to shortstop, Haseley out at second). Thaiss grounded into double play, second to shortstop (Pinero out at second).
(0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors).
Vanderbilt: Reynolds grounded out to second base. Wiseman singled to center. Swanson struck out swinging. Wiel walked (Wiseman to second). Toffey popped up to third base.
(0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors)
FOURTH INNING
Virginia: Towns walked.
Smith homered to right (Towns scored).
Coman walked. Kilichowski pitching for Vanderbilt. McCarthy reached on fielder's choice (third to shortstop to second, Coman out at second). Doherty reached on fielder's choice (Coman out at second, shortstop to second). Clement grounded out to third base.
(2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors)
Vanderbilt: Kendall grounded out to pitcher. Murfee doubled to left field. Delay fouled out to first base (Murfee to third). Campbell grounded out to third base.
(0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors)
FIFTH INNING
Virginia: Haseley walked. Pinero sacrificed, pitcher to first (Haseley advanced to second). Thaiss hit by pitch. Snider pitching for Vanderbilt. Towns flied out to right field. Bowden pitching for Vanderbilt.
Smith singled to left field (Haseley scored, Thaiss to second).
Coman reached on fielder's choice (Smith out, second to shorstop).
(1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors)
Vanderbilt: Reynolds grounded out to second base. Wiseman grounded out to pitcher. Swanson flied out to right field.
(0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors)
SIXTH INNING
Virginia: Wright pitching for Vanderbilt. McCarthy grounded out to first base (unassisted). Doherty grounded out to shortstop. Clement grounded out to shortstop.
(0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors)
Vanderbilt: Wiel grounded out to shortstop. Toffey flied out to right field. Kendall popped out to second base.
(0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors)
SEVENTH INNING
Virginia: Haseley reached on infield single to second base. Pinero sacrificed (catcher to first base, Haseley advanced to second). Thaiss grounded out to second base.
Towns singled to center field (Haseley scored).
Towns caught stealing.
(1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors)
Vanderbilt: Murfee flied out to right field. Delay flied out to right field. Campbell grounded out to shortstop.
(0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors)
EIGHTH INNING
Virginia: Smith grounded out to pitcher. Coman singled to center. Woodruff ran for Coman. Woodruff caught stealing. McCarthy singled to right. Doherty struck out swinging.
(0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors)
Vanderbilt: Kirby pitching for Virginia. Reynolds struck out swinging. Wiseman walked. Swanson struck out swinging. Wiel struck out swinging (catcher to first).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors)
NINTH INNING
Virginia: Clement grounded out to third base. Haseley grounded out to shortstop. Pinero grounded out to shortstop.
(0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors).
Vanderbilt: Toffey struck out swinging. Kendall grounded out to second base. Murfee singled to left field. Kyle Smith hitting for Delay. Smith struck out looking.
(0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors)