Omaha Day 7 Recap

 

 Vanderbilt vs. NC State

Vanderbilt forced a second game with NC State by winning 3-1 against a short handed Wolfpack team.  Due to Covid-19 Health and Safety Protocols, NC State only had 13 players available for the game.

Vanderbilt ace pitcher Kumar Rocker was on fire early in the game, striking out 8 of the first 9 batters he faced.  The game was scoreless until the top of the 4th inning when the Commodores scored 2 runs.  1B Dominic Keegan reached on an error by SS Vojtech Mensik and later scored on an RBI single from Catcher CJ Rodriguez.  A few batters later Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Vanderbilt.

NC State was able to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the 5th inning. A bunt single by 2B Carson Falsken and a single by 1B Sam Highfill put 2 on with no outs.  A groundout advanced Falsken to third and he scored following a sacrifice fly from 3B Deangelo Giles. But Rocker was able to limit the damage to only one run by striking out CF Jonny Butler to end the inning.

Vanderbilt added an insurance run in the top of the 6th inning on an RBI single from 2B Parker Noland to make the score 3-1 Vanderbilt.  Reliever Luke Murphy held NC State scoreless over the last 2.1 innings to earn the save.  The teams will play again Saturday to see who advances to the finals.

Texas vs. Mississippi St

Texas got off to a fast start with a solo homerun from 1B Zack Zubia in the top of the 1st inning.  Mississippi State answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning.  CF Rowdey Jordan led off with a single and came around to score on an RBI single from 3B Kamren James.  A few batters later, catcher Logan Tanner singled to bring home James.  The Longhorns tied the game up with a run in the top of the 2nd inning.  2B Mitchell Daly led off with a single to left field and with one out, RF Doug Hodo singled to center, moving Daly to second.  Daly stole third base and came home to score on a sacrifice fly from SS Trey Faltine.

In the top of the 5th Texas came back to take the lead 3-2.  RF Doug Hodo scored on CF Mike Antico's RBI single up the middle.  Texas added 2 more in the top of the 7th to extend its lead to 5-2.  SS Trey Faltine lead off with a double and scored on an RBI single from Antico.  LF Eric Kennedy walked to advance Antico to second but he was caught stealing third during the ensuing at bat.  After Zubia walked, DH Ivan Melendez singled to left, scoring Kennedy.

Mississippi State came back to tie the game in the bottom on the 8th.  RF Tanner Allen led off with a double to centerfield.  After one out, 3 consecutive walks from Texas reliever Tanner Witt brought Allen home.  Aaron Nixon came in for Texas to relieve Witt and was greeted with a 2 RBI single from LF Brad Cumbest.  Nixon was able to get the next 2 outs without allowing any more runs to make the score 5-5 after 8 innings.

In the top of the 9th, the Longhorns DH Ivan Melendez crushed a 3 run homerun to left center giving Texas the lead back at 8-5.  And then the rain arrived...for nearly 3 hours.  The game resumed at just past 1 AM local time.  Aaron Nixon was back on the mound for Texas and survived a scare as Mississippi State was able to get 2 runners on via an error and walk with one out.  Nixon was able to retire the last 2 batters to secure the win for the Longhorns.

Texas and Mississippi State will play again on Saturday to see who advances to the final series.