College World Series Game 3 Recap

 

2021 College World Series - Game 3

Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State

Mississippi State used dominating pitching and explosive offense to defeat Vanderbilt 9-0 Wednesday night and win their first ever College World Series Championship.

Bulldog pitchers Will Bednar and Landon Sims combined to nearly throw a no hitter versus Vanderbilt, allowing only 1 hit and zero runs to the Commodores.  Bednar went 6 innings, allowing no hits and striking out 4, to get the championship win.  Sims came on in relief in the 7th inning and was just as good.  He allowed only 1 hit while striking out 4 as well.

Much like in Game 2, the Bulldog offense scored early to keep the pressure on Vanderbilt and their starting pitcher Kumar Rocker.  Rowdey Jordan led off the game with a single and moved to third base following a one out error by Rocker on a fielder's choice grounder from Kamren James.  Luke Hancock followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Jordan.  In the top of the 2nd inning Scotty Dubrule led off with a walk.  Brayland Skinner also walked, moving Dubrule to second base.  A ground out advanced Dubrule to third and Skinner to second.  Dubrule would come home to score on a ground out from Lane Forsythe and a RBI double from Jordan scored Skinner to make it 3-0 Bulldogs.

Mississippi State added on in the top of the 5th inning starting off with an infield single from Jordan.  He advanced to second on a single to right field from Tanner Allen. After a strikeout, Hancock singled to center to score Jordan and a Logan Tanner single to center scored Allen. Vanderbilt's Chris McElvain came in to relieve Rocker and was able to get out of the inning without giving up any more runs.  Rocker ended the night allowing 5 runs [4 earned] on 6 hits while striking out 6.

The Bulldogs put the game out of reach in the top of the 7th inning.  Tanner had a one out solo homer and 2 batters later, Kellum Clark blasted a 3 run home run to right to make it 9-0 Bulldogs.  After that, Sims shut down Vanderbilt the rest of the way giving the 2021 College World Series title to the Mississippi State Bulldogs.