Commodores Historic Season Comes to an End

Commodores Historic Season Comes to an End

6/12/2004

Commodores Historic Season Comes to an End
Texas Defeats Vanderbilt 10-2 to take the best-of-three game series in the Super Regional

AUSTIN, Texas — The Vanderbilt Commodores’ most historic baseball season came to an end Saturday when The University of Texas defeated Vanderbilt 10-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 7,790 at Disch-Falk Field.  The Longhorns advance to the College World Series for the 31st time, including the third consecutive year.  Texas was the 2002 national champion.

“I want to congratulate (UT Coach) Augie Garrido, his staff and the players of The University of Texas,” Vanderbilt Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin said. “We play some really good baseball teams in the SEC, but from pitching to hitting to defense and knowing how to play the game, this is about as good as a team as we have faced.”

The Longhorns scored runs in four consecutive innings, including four in the eighth to extend their lead to the 10-2 decision. 

Curtis Thigpen hit a two-out solo homerun off the scoreboard to give the Longhorns a 1-0 lead in the first inning.  Texas scored one run in the third inning when Drew Stubbs scored on a single by Thigpen to right center field.  Taylor Teagarden lined into a double play to end the inning.

“Texas is a real good hitting team,” starting VU pitcher Ryan Mullins said. “With the wind that you have here in Texas, if you get the ball up, it will go a ways. I made some mistakes in my pitches and they hit the ball well. It just wasn’t my day.”

UT added two runs in the fifth inning when Stubbs hit a two-run home run to center field scoring Ryan Russ who reached base on a single.  With the bases loaded, VU third baseman Tony Mansolino made a diving catch on a line drive by David Maroul to end the inning.

The Commodores got on the board in the fifth when Worth Scott hit his first triple of the season scoring Mansolino who drew a walk to open the inning.  Scott then scored when Ryan Klosterman hit a ground out to the right side of the field to narrow the UT lead to two, 4-2.

The Longhorns added one run in the sixth inning off Commodore reliever Jensen Lewis.  Stubbs hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring pinch hitter Dooley Prince who led off the inning with a walk.  The Longhorns then scored one more in the seventh when Prince hit a shot up the middle scoring Teagarden who walked with one away.

Ryan Russ led off the eighth inning with a single up the middle.  Stubbs doubled to right field moving Peoples, a pinch runner for Russ, to third.  VU’s Ryan Rote took the mound in relief of Jensen Lewis and walked Seth Johnston to load the bases.  Thigpen flied out to right field scoring Peoples and Teagarden flied out to center field scoring Stubbs.  Johnston moved to second and third — both on wild pitches followed by walks by Carson Kainer and David Maroul.  Prince then singled through the right side scoring Kainer and Johnston.

Texas totaled 14 hits on the day, including three by Stubbs and Thigpen.  Vanderbilt numbered six hits, including a double from Klosterman and Scott’s triple.

Ryan Mullins (9-2) earned his first loss since April 4 (10-4 to South Carolina) going 5.0 innings and giving up four runs (all earned) on eight hits.  He struck out three and walked one.  Jensen Lewis went 2.0 innings giving up four runs on five hits with three strikeouts.  Ryan Rote pitched 1.0 inning giving up two runs and Matt Buschmann retired the side in the ninth inning.

Sam LeCure (9-3) went 5.1 innings in the win giving up VU’s two runs on four hits.  He struck out five batters.  Buck Cody went 0.2 innings without giving up a hit, followed by Brent Cox who gave up two hits in 2.0 innings.  Huston Street pitched the final inning retiring the side.

The Commodores end their most successful season in school history with a record 45-19 record.  Texas takes a 55-13 record into the College World Series as the #1 Seed.

“Obviously, we would have like the games to be a little closer and compete a little more,” Corbin added.  “For those of you that haven’t seen us play this year, you may not think that they are a good team, but we are. I am glad for our kids and especially the seniors because this is uncharted waters for the Vanderbilt program because we have never made it this far before. And as much as I hate to say it, going to Omaha is a process. You have to take baby steps and become more competitive each time you go through a regional, super regional and then the World Series.”