(OMAHA, Neb.)—After a week and a half of grueling competition, ever-changing weather and historic performances, a new champion of college baseball has risen to the top, yet again. This time, a familiar face has gained the crown.
The Vanderbilt Commodores celebrated Wednesday night, winning the schools’ second College World Series title. Vanderbilt’s win came just two days after dropping game one of the CWS Finals to Michigan. The Commodores responded from that loss by tuning up the bats and displaying some all-time pitching performances, winning two games in a row along with their first National Championship since 2014.
Going into the game, it was still a question as to who had the momentum. Both teams had flashed their proverbial chops in the Finals to that point, but neither team was able to capitalize on both nights.
From the early stages of Game 3, it seemed like Michigan would be that team. Michigan started the game with three straight singles, the last of which being an RBI-single from Jordan Brewer. The Wolverines had runners at the corners, with no outs and one run already home before the heart of the Michigan order even came to the plate in the first inning. Just as it seemed Michigan was going to bust the doors open in the first, like they had been consistently doing throughout the tournament, Mason Hickman found his rhythm. Hickman proceeded to strikeout the next three Wolverine batters, ending any further chance of Michigan first-inning runs. Regardless, Michigan had a 1-0 lead after one.
For the third time in the 2019 CWS, Michigan started Karl Kauffmann. Kauffmann had been a reliable arm, with Michigan winning his previous starts of the CWS, but by no means was of the “ace” status that Tommy Henry had built up for the Wolverines. A fatigued Kauffmann would have to be brilliant, especially in the early stages for the Wolverines.
The Vanderbilt bats ended up being too much for Michigan. To lead off the second, Pat DeMarco took Kauffmann yard to left-center field, tying the game at 1-1. The Commodores then proceeded to add three in the third, as DeMarco drew a walk with the bases loaded and Stephen Scott notched a two RBI-single. After three, Vanderbilt matched their run total of the previous night’s win, and led 4-1.
Vanderbilt didn’t stop there. The Commodores continued to build on their lead, scoring two runs in the fourth-inning. Kauffmann exited the game after walking the first batter of that fourth frame, giving way to Jeff Criswell, who had been excellent in relief for Michigan to that point. Vanderbilt finally cracked Criswell, as J.J. Bleday drove in a run with a single and Ethan Paul hit a sac fly to drive in another one, extending the Commodore lead to 6-1.
On the other side, Hickman was the epitome of bend-but-don’t-break in the early innings. Michigan, like in the first, continued to get men on base. However, time after rime, Hickman would bail himself out of jams. While Vanderbilt was capitalizing, Michigan kept coming up empty with runners in scoring position.
Hickman ended up going six innings, giving up only one run on four hits and three walks. The most notable stat for Hickman was in the strikeout category. Hickman tallied ten total K’s before the end of his night. Similar to Rocker yesterday, Vanderbilt pitching was effective with the strikeout.
With Hickman leaving the game after six and Tyler Brown going two plus innings the night before, there was a question who would fill the void for Vanderbilt. The role went to sophomore Jake Eder. Playing with the lead in a winner-take-all game, Eder was unphased. He allowed only one run over three innings worked, giving up two hits and adding four strikeouts. Tyler Brown ended up being unused in this contest, as Eder fended well for himself.
Vanderbilt added a couple insurance runs in the late innings. Harrison Ray had an RBI-single in the seventh-inning and Philip Clarke adding one of his own in the eighth. Michigan scored late on a Blake Nelson double in eighth, but it was too little too late for the Wolverines.
Despite allowing a walk in the ninth, Eder finished off the Wolverines in the ninth, getting Ako Thomas to fly out to end the game. Vanderbilt cruised to the title with a decisive 8-2 win.
An overjoyed group of Commodores rushed the field. Whether it was Kumar Rocker emphatically knocking over his water cup before storming the field, or a jubilated Jake Eder chucking aside his glove before being buried by teammates, there were no shortage of chill-inducing moments as the fireworks shot into the sky. That tradition never gets old to baseball fans from everywhere.
Jesse Franklin went 2-4, and Brewer and Nelson added an RBI each for the Wolverines who finish the year 50-22. Philip Clarke went 3-4, while Ethan Paul went 2-3 for the Commodores. Scott and DeMarco each had two-RBI’s. Vanderbilt finishes the season 59-12, and wins its second National Championship since 2014.
-Ben Helwig, Sports reporter
