In The Cards

OMAHA, Neb. – The Vanderbilt Commodores look to clinch their third trip to the College World Series finals when the club faces the Louisville Cardinals on Friday at 6 p.m. from TD Ameritrade Park. The game can be seen on ESPN and heard on WNSR 560 AM/95.9 FM and VUCommodores.com.

Vanderbilt (56-11) is 2-0 at the College World Series following a 6-3 win against Mississippi State on Wednesday. Senior Stephen Scott crushed two home runs including a three-run shot as part of a five-run fifth inning while freshman right-hander Kumar Rocker limited the Bulldogs to one run in six innings.

Louisville (51-17) bounced back from an opening loss to Vanderbilt, defeating Auburn to secure its 50th win before overcoming a three-run deficit, including a one-run margin in the ninth inning, upending Mississippi State, 4-3 on a Drew Campbell RBI-single into center field on Thursday.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
– FRIDAY: RHP Mason Hickman (8-0, 2.23 ERA) vs. RHP Luke Smith (6-0, 4.37 ERA)

NEED TO KNOW
Vanderbilt and Louisville meet for the third time this season and second at the CWS on Friday. Commodore starter Mason Hickman limited the Cards to two runs in 5.2 innings in Louisville on May 7. Vandy is 2-0 vs. Louisville this season despite batting .230 including .200 (7-for-35) with runners aboard.

Austin Martin and Stephen Scott are the first teammates with two-homer games in a CWS since Texas’ Cameron Rupp and Russell Moldenhaur (2009). With four homers at the CWS, the Commodores have surpassed Indiana for the national lead (97).

Vanderbilt is 65-39 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. In eight NCAA Tournament games this season, the Dores have batted .293, averaging 7.25 runs per game. Vandy pitching has limited foes to a .216 average.

UP NEXT
A win Friday would vault Vanderbilt into the College World Series finals against either Michigan or Texas Tech. A loss would force a rematch against Louisville on Saturday at 6 p.m.