Vanderbilt’s RO Coleman races down the line. Photo by David Cohen (BHEphotos)
OMAHA, Neb. – Jeren Kendall blasted a two-run homer to give Vanderbilt a come-from-behind walkoff victory over Cal State Fullerton, 4-3, in the opening round of the 2015 Men’s College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
It was the first ninth-inning comeback in the CWS at TD Ameritrade and the first CWS walkoff home run
since 2009.
The game was played over two days after being suspended due to lightning and rain on Sunday night.
Fullerton held on to a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth with closer Tyler Peitzmeier on the mound. The Commodores brought it to within one on a pair of doubles by Zander Wiel and Bryan Reynolds, then Kendall drove an 0-1 pitch into the bullpen to end the game.
The Titans had shut out Vanderbilt and led 3-0 after the first night of play. In the third inning, Taylor Bryant batted in Timmy Richards who had walked and advanced to third on a balk and a sac bunt.
Fullerton drove in two more in the fifth. Richards walked, then advanced to third on a double by A.J. Kennedy. He scored on a wild pitch, starter Carson Fulmer’s third of the game. Josh Vargas made it 3-0 Titans two batters later with an RBI single to right.
Vanderbilt’s first run was 17 hours in coming. Rhett Wiseman doubled and had moved to third on a passed ball when lightning and rain pushed the conclusion of the game to Monday afternoon. The first batter up after play resumed, Zander Wiel, hit a double to right center to score Wiseman before relief pitcher Chad Hockin ended the inning with a strikeout.
Both starting pitchers shone on Sunday evening. CSF’s Thomas Eshelman struck out eight and gave up one run in his 5.2 innings of work. Vanderbilt’s Fulmer struck out seven and allowed three runs in six innings.
Peitzmeier (5-4) took the loss for the Titans, while Kyle Wright (6-1) earned the win for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt heads to a winner’s bracket matchup with TCU on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Fullerton faces elimination versus LSU on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
