OMAHA, Neb. – A solo home run by Zander Wiel in the seventh inning proved decisive in a tightly
contested 1-0 victory for Vanderbilt over No. 7-seed TCU in the 2015 Men’s College World Series at TD
Ameritrade Park Omaha.
It was the second 1-0 game in as many days at the 2015 CWS, which makes it the first Series with multiple 1-0 games since 1972.
Leading off the seventh inning, Wiel drove a 2-1 pitch just to the fair side of the left-field foul pole for Vanderbilt’s first hit of the game and the only run in the pitcher’s duel.
The two teams combined for a CWS-record-tying 25 strikeouts, and Vanderbilt became the first team to
win with three hits or less since 2007.
TCU starter Alex Young (9-3) had pitched six innings of no-hit ball before Wiel’s strike, the longest such outing at the CWS since 2006. He suffered the loss despite allowing one run on three hits and striking out 12.
Philip Pfeifer (6-4) earned the win for the Commodores with four hits in seven shutout innings and seven strikeouts.
Vanderbilt loaded the bases in the second on a strikeout passed ball, a sacrifice bunt with an error and a walk. But Young struck out Rhett Wiseman and Dansby Swanson before Vanderbilt could capitalize on the opportunity.
TCU’s best offensive chance came in the third when a walk, a fielder’s choice and a single by Jeremie Fagnan put runners on second and third with one out. But Connor Wanhanen grounded out to second and Evan Skoug flew out to right to end the inning with no harm done.
The Horned Frogs had a runner in scoring position in sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but they were never able to bring them home.
TCU (51-13) moves into an elimination-game rematch with LSU on Thursday at 7 p.m. Vanderbilt, in the driver’s seat for bracket two at 2-0, awaits the winner of Thursday’s game on Friday at 7 p.m.
