The Vanderbilt Commodores are moving on in the College World Series after eliminating the Stanford Cardinal in absurd fashion.
Stanford’s time in the 2021 College World Series is coming to a close after a bizarre ending to the elimination game between the Cardinal and the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Cardinal absolutely collapsed during the bottom of the 9th inning, allowing Vanderbilt to complete a comeback and advance on to face North Carolina State.
This is a game that Stanford controlled from the very beginning, but the Cardinal simply made too many mistakes and could not stay on top.
Stanford jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning. By the time the top of the 4th inning was done, that lead sat at 4-0. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Vandy began its comeback bid.
The Commodores scored a couple of runs in the 4th and then again in the 6th, but by the time the 9th inning rolled around, the score sat at 5-4 and it was starting to look like Stanford would be able to hold on and win.
The Vanderbilt walk-off ended Stanford’s season in heartbreaking fashion
After two quick outs, the Vanderbilt Commodores completed an unlikely comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning.
That began when Javier Vaz was walked on a 3-2 count. Spencer Jones stepped in to pinch-hit for the Commodores and got a single. Thanks to a throwing error, Vaz was able to advance to third base, giving Vanderbilt runners at the corners.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. then knocked a single to right field, scoring Vaz and tying the game up at 5-5. And thanks to a wild pitch by the Stanford Cardinal, Jones was able to make it across home plate and give Vanderbilt an improbable 6-5 win.
The Commodores were able to celebrate the thrilling victory as a team. But, somehow in the process of that celebration, one of Vanderbilt’s players lost his shirt.
Of course, this guy’s reaction to the ending of that game is representative of just about everyone’s reaction. It was unexpected and unpredictable and absolutely a blast to watch (if you’re not a Stanford fan, that is).
Get another look at the final moments of that game from the perspective of Vanderbilt’s dugout:
Vanderbilt is advancing on and will face the North Carolina State Wolfpack. NC State previously defeated Vanderbilt 1-0. The Commodores will need to defeat the Wolfpack twice in order to advance on to the College World Series finals.
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