OMAHA, Neb. — Vanderbilt scored four of its five runs with two outs, including all three in a second-inning rally, and that was enough to knock off Louisville, 5-3, in the College World Series opening round.
The Commodores’ big rally started with a pair of walks and a single that loaded the bases for leadoff hitter Dansby Swanson. A wild pitch got Vanderbilt (47-19) on the board and then Swanson tacked on two more, clearing the bases with a rope into left-centerfield for a double.
The big inning came after freshman outfielder Bryan Reynolds made a leaping catch on the warning track before crashing into the chain link fencing in front of the left field bullpen. Reynolds catch stole a run and the momentum away from Louisville (50-16).
After Reynolds made it 4-0 with an RBI triple in the fourth inning, Louisville clawed back to 4-3 with the help of an ill-advised diving attempt by Rhett Wiseman on a tailing liner in right field that went for a Sutton Whiting RBI triple.
But after the Cardinals got to within a run on Nick Solak‘s RBI single in the seventh inning, Vanderbilt turned the ball over to junior Adam Ravanelle. Ravanelle, the Detroit Tigers’ fourth-round draft pick, slammed the door shut with 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, to record his first career save. (Not a bad time for that one.)
Carson Fulmer picked up the win (5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 6 K) to improve to 7-1 while Louisville ace Kyle Funkhouser fell to 13-3. Funkhouser gave up four earned runs in six innings. He allowed six hits and issued six walks.
With the win, Vanderbilt advances to face UC Irvine, who defeated Texas, on Monday at 7 pm CST. Louisville will have to face Texas at 2 pm the same day in an elimination game.
Here’s CBD photographer Shotgun Spratling‘s top shots from the nightcap of the 2014 College World Series opening day in TD Ameritrade Park:
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Be sure to check out our other coverage from Vanderbilt’s 5-3 victory:
