June 18, 2006

College World Series Capsules

College World Series Schedule and Recaps

Fullerton scores three in final at-bat

In Omaha, Neb., Cory Vanderhook bounced a pinch-hit single off home plate to bring in two runs in the top of the ninth to spark Cal State Fullerton to a 7-5 win over Georgia Tech in an elimination game at the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets (50-18) had taken a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh on a home run by catcher Matt Wieters, his 15th of the season.

Wieters (1-3) shed the catcher's gear and took the mound in the eighth to try to save the game for Tech. He retired the first two in the top of the ninth before Blake Davis singled to left for the Titans (49-14). On a 1-2 pitch, Brett Pill sent a double to right center. Davis was disappointed as he was held at third. Danny Dorn was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Vanderhook offered at the first pitch and bounced the ball off the plate over the head of Wieters. The shortstop came in and could not field it as it got by him. The second baseman was covering second base, and by the time he retrieved the ball, Davis and Pill both scored to give Fullerton a 6-5 advantage. Brandon Tripp dumped a single into left field to score Dorn with an insurance run.

The Jackets got a two-out base-runner in the bottom of the ninth, but could not score.

Ryan Paul (3-1) earned the win in relief for the Titans, tossing 1.2 hitless innings with one strikeout.

For the second straight game, Tech scored three in the first. Wally Crancer walked, moved to second on a single by Wieters and scored on a base hit by Jeff Kindel. Wieters came in on a sacrifice fly by Whit Robbins, and a single by Wes Hodges brought home Kindel to give the Jackets a 3-0 advantage.

Tech pushed the lead to 4-0 in the third as Kindel walked and scored on an error.

Fullerton scored in each of the middle three innings to tie the game. Davis singled and scored on a double play in the fourth. Justin Turner added an RBI single in the fifth to make it 4-2. Brandon Tripp had an RBI triple in the sixth and scored on a base hit by Clark Hardman to knot the score at 4-4.

The Titans will play another elimination game on Tuesday at 5 p.m. EDT against the loser of Sunday night's Clemson/North Carolina contest.