Smith, Waddell,
Kirby Lead Virginia to First Title
In Omaha, Neb., freshman Pavin Smith
homered and drove in three, while juniors Brandon Waddell and
Nathan Kirby combined on a five-hitter as Virginia defeated
Vanderbilt 4-2 to capture its first national title in the 2015
College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.
The Cavaliers (44-24) became the third
team to win a national championship after losing the first
game of the CWS Championship Series, joining Oregon State of
2006 and Fresno State of 2008. Virginia became the first ACC
team to win the national title since Wake Forest in 1955.
Virginia became the third team to be a
regional three-seed or lower to win a national championship.
The Cavaliers were a No. 3 regional seed, as was Oregon State
in 2007. A year later, Fresno State was a No. 4 regional seed
and won the title.
The Commodores (51-21) failed in their
attempt to win back-to-back national crowns.
Pavin went 2 for 3 with three RBI. He
belted a game-tying two-run homer in the fourth and a go-ahead
RBI single in the fifth.
Waddell (5-5) was the starter and winner
for the Cavaliers. He gave up a pair of runs in the first and
fired six scoreless innings after that. Waddell allowed four
hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Kirby pitched the final two innings with
one hit, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts to record his
first save. He struck out the side in the eighth and fanned a
pair in the ninth, including a called third strike to end the
contest.
The Cavaliers had a chance to score in the first. Adam Haseley
sent the first pitch of the game into center field for a
single and moved to second on a base hit by Daniel Pinero.
Both runners moved up on a groundout. With two away, Smith
walked to load the bases. Robbie Coman flew out
to center to end the frame.
The Commodores answered in the bottom of the
frame. Bryan Reynolds drew a leadoff walk and moved to third
on a double to left by Rhett Wiseman. Dansby Swanson grounded
out to plate Reynolds and a Zander Wiel double drove in
Wiseman as Vandy took a 2-0 lead.
Virginia got on the board in the fourth. Kenny
Towns drew a leadoff walk and scored on a homer by Smith to
knot the score at 2-2.
Vanderbilt threatened in the bottom of the
fourth. Penn Murfee had a one-out double and moved to third on
a foul pop on the right side. Tyler Campbell hit a sharp
grounder down the third base line. Towns made a diving stop,
rolled over, bounced up and threw Campbell out at first on a
close play.
The Cavaliers took the lead in the fifth.
Haseley walked to start the inning and was sacrificed to
second. With two away, Smith singled the other way through the
left side to drive in Haseley and give Virginia a 3-2
advantage.
Virginia added an insurance run in the seventh.
Haseley had a leadoff single and was sacrificed to second.
With two away, Towns delivered a base hit up the middle to
drive in Haseley and make the score 4-2.
Haseley reached four
times out of the leadoff spot, with two hits, two walks and
two runs.
Wiseman and Murfee both had two hits for the
Commodores.
Vanderbilt went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring
position, and was 1 for 18 over the final two games with
runners in scoring position.