OMAHA, Neb. – The Vanderbilt Commodores seek their second College World Series championship and make their third finals appearance when the club faces the Michigan Wolverines in a best-of-three series beginning Monday at 6 p.m. from TD Ameritrade Park.
Tuesday’s matchup and Wednesday’s if-necessary contest are also set for 6 o’clock starts. All three games can be seen on ESPN and can be heard on WNSR 560 AM/95.9 FM and VUCommodores.com.
The Commodores (57-11) are 3-0 at the College World Series, clinching a spot in the finals by scoring two runs in the ninth inning Friday against Louisville to cap a 3-2 win. Ethan Paul and Pat DeMarco contributed RBI-doubles in the final frame to seal the win.
The Wolverines (49-20) are looking for their third national title and first since 1962. Michigan upended top-seeded UCLA in its NCAA Super Regional series and is undefeated at the College World Series including clinching a title berth with a 15-3 drubbing of Texas Tech on Friday.
One for the history books.📚 #CWS | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/e8u7BzW87N
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) June 22, 2019
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
– MONDAY: RHP Drake Fellows (13-1, 3.97 ERA) vs. LHP Tommy Henry (11-5, 3.27 ERA)
NEED TO KNOW
Vanderbilt is the first school to reach the College World Series finals three times since the event moved to TD Ameritrade Park in 2011. Vandy is the sixth school to reach the championship round three times in its first four College World Series appearances (Arizona State, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas and Wichita State).
Your support means the world. Thanks for being here in Omaha, Commodore Nation.#CWS | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/MzCc4kSWFh
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) June 18, 2019
Monday marks the latest installment in a storied athletic history between Vandy and Michigan. Michigan head coach Erik Bakich served as Vandy’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2003-09. The Commodores opened a brand-new Vanderbilt football stadium vs. Michigan in 1922. Vandy men’s basketball made its deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history in 1965, reaching the Elite 8 before stumbling to Michigan.
Vanderbilt is a combined 11-1 vs. CWS teams following its 3-2 win against Louisville on Friday night. In 12 games against College World Series teams, the Dores have batted .304, averaging 6.91 runs per game. Vandy pitching posted a 3.28 ERA.
The Commodores lead the nation with 57 wins. Vandy posted its single-season program-best 55th win Sunday against Louisville. The Dores have won 50 games six times in program history (2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019).
