BY HAILEY CHAPMAN
OMAHA, Neb. — In the final semifinal game of the College World Series, Vanderbilt defeated Louisville 3-2 after trailing for seven innings. Louisville starter Luke Smith showed an outstanding complete-game performance on the mound for eight innings, but struggled to maintain composure in the ninth and was pulled after two runs scored.
Vanderbilt struck first in the third inning with an RBI from Julian Infante, who grounded into a double play, but scored Harrison Ray from third. The offense was silenced for the next four innings as a pitchers’ duel began between Louisville’s Smith and Vanderbilt’s Mason Hickman.
In the seventh inning, the Cardinals were able to score two runs. The first, a result of a bad throw on Henry Davis’ steal, which allowed Justin Lavey to score. The second run was unearned off an RBI single from Lucas Dunn. The seventh forced Vanderbilt to retire their starter Hickman and turn to one of their closers, Jake Eder, who allowed one run in the inning.
In the eighth inning, controversy and chaos struck the CWS field as Smith earned his 10th strikeout of the day and immediately turned to the Vanderbilt dugout, screaming profanities.
Karma found a way to come around in the ninth, as Smith promptly blew his performance with a leadoff walk to JJ Bleday, followed by an Ethan Paul RBI-double to tie it up at two. Smith was relieved by Michael McAvene who provided a strong closing performance, getting two outs, but fell just short as Paul was able to make it home from second on another double.
Vanderbilt was able to pull in their closer Tyler Brown, who earned his 17th save and propelled his team into the championship. Brown allowed one hit and struck out two in his one inning of work.
Teammates Eder and Hickman (WP) also provided strong performances, combining five hits, one earned run, two walks and three strikeouts in eight innings of work.
Louisville’s Smith (LP) allowed three runs on four hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts in eight innings, while McAvene threw one inning with two hits, a walk and a strikeout. The winning run was charged to Smith as Paul hit his game tying double off of him rather than McAvene.
Vanderbilt remains the top seed in CWS play as they prepare for their game against Michigan this evening. Vanderbilt enters the game at 57-11, while Michigan is sitting at 49-20 as a tournament underdog.
Michigan keeps rolling
In the semifinal round of World Series play, Michigan defeated Texas Tech in an explosive 15-3 game Friday afternoon.
The game started in the Wolverines’ favor, with a two-run bottom of the first off of Texas Tech starter Micah Dallas. The Red Raiders were able to respond in the top of the third, tacking on three runs from Michigan starting pitcher Karl Kauffman.
The lone three runs in the second were all that Texas Tech could muster up as Kauffman found his tempo on the mound, and shut them down for the next four innings.
In the second inning, the ball was turned over to Texas Tech’s John McMillon, after Dallas put two on with one out. McMillon struggled as he loaded the bases with a walk and forced in a run with a hit by pitch. He was able to dance out of danger with the next two batters, dealing consecutive strikeouts to end the inning with Michigan up 4-3.
Kauffman was able to work around bases-loaded jams in both the third and the fourth to back his teams stellar offensive performance. In the early half, Michigan was able to rally with three consecutive two-run innings and a one run inning in the fourth. McMillon seemed to find his stride on the mound with a three up, three down inning in the fifth, however Michigan erupted with a five-run sixth inning to gain the 12-3 lead.
To the top of the seventh, Michigan put in closer Jeff Criswell to deal the final two innings. He thrived in his role as a closer and forced six strikeouts in the seven batters he faced. He allowed only one hit and did not issue a single walk.
The momentum only continued in the seventh and eighth innings, as Jimmy Kerr kept his bat hot with a leadoff homerun in the seventh, followed by an RBI later that inning. In the eighth, the Wolverines pulled across one more run to further exemplify their dominance at the plate.
Texas Tech used seven arms in their battle against Michigan, starting with Dallas, moving to McMillon and Hunter Dobbins, who each threw two innings, and finally ending with Ryan Sublette, Dane Haveman, Caleb Freeman and Clayton Beeter. As a staff, the Red Raiders allowed 15 runs on 14 hits, 12 walks and 11 strikeouts. They also showed a team high of three wild pitches and hit three batters.
Kauffman and Criswell showed their control and composure on the mound with a combined three earned runs on seven hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. Kauffman earned the win, moving to 12-6 on the year, while Criswell was given the save, his third of the year.