June 3, 2011
Recap: Vanderbilt 10, Belmont 0 | Tournament Central
It was not an epic victory Friday night but it was a terrific night of baseball. The top-seeded Commodores made quick work of their valiant neighbors, the Belmont Bruins, as they advanced in the winner’s bracket of this NCAA Regional Tournament by a comfortable 10-0 margin.
Vanderbilt, winning for the 48th time in 58 games, showed a little bit of everything before a sweaty, sold-out crowd of 3,531. Earning the No. 6 national seed has its on-the-field advantages but it also allows this program — Vanderbilt’s finest – to showcase its tremendous team and sparkling facility to a wider cross-section of fans.
Scanning the crowd, especially the jammed outfield bleachers, it is difficult to believe the memory of a blustery March day in 2003 when Tim Corbin made his head coaching debut before a modest collection of brave souls that could have fit around a campfire after the game to thaw out. Don’t tell us that one man can’t make a difference!
There was an electric vibe on the closed-to-traffic Jess Neely Drive before the game. Moms and grandmoms showed up resplendent in Vanderbilt garb adorned with large Star V logos. Fashionable guys wore Vandy baseball caps.
Pro golf star Brandt Snedeker spent about half the game in the radio booth with Joe Fisher. The familiar “Black-Gold” cheer resounded at least once, although in deference to the classy Belmont program and fans it felt as though Commodore faithful were saving their vocal cords for another day.
Another mark of baseball’s internal popularity in general and Corbin’s personal appeal in particular clearly showed in how many members of the Vanderbilt athletic staff are volunteering their time to make the tournament a success. Every administrative office in McGugin Center was well represented as press stewards, hospitality and visiting team hosts, trainers, ticket clerks and whatever else was required to make things tick. It’s the kind of thing that fans would not notice but it is a sign of a very healthy organization.
So it was on this baseball night in Nashville. Sharp pitching, 15 hits, sparkling defensive plays, a cushy lead. It all felt so good right up until the realization that an impressive Troy team lies in wait tomorrow night.
The shower will feel good this evening but thoughts of the impressive Trojans, who thumped Oklahoma State earlier in the day, will give many Black and Gold fans a restless 22 hours of anticipation. The program has indeed come a long, long way.
The first pitch in the winner’s bracket is set for 7 p.m. CT in Hawkins Field.
