NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt rallied to force extra innings in Game 3 of the Nashville Super Regional, but a four-run 11th lifted Mississippi State to a 10-6 victory over the Commodores on Sunday.
Vanderbilt (35-27) forced extra innings with a three-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth, capped by a two-run homer by Ethan Paul. The Bulldogs (37-27) did more damage in the top of the 11th, however, and the Dores were unable to match in their frame.
The Dores stranded 17 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in three different innings. With a chance to walk-off for a second-straight night, Connor Kaiser recorded a one-out double in the 10th before being stranded there.
Tyler Brown (1-5) was saddled with the loss, allowing two hits and four runs while walking three in 0.2 innings. Denver McQuary (2-2) earned the win for the Bulldogs while walking one and striking out another in 0.1 innings.
Vandy trailed 6-3 with one out and the bases empty in the ninth before mounting a furious comeback. Pat DeMarco belted a solo home run and Harrison Ray sent a single up the middle to set up Paul’s game-tying, two-run homer.
The Bulldogs re-took the lead in the 11th as Josh Hatcher worked a leadoff walk and came around to score two batters later on a Tanner Allen RBI-double. With two outs, Justin Foscue drew a four-pitch bases loaded walk and Luke Alexander lifted a two-run single down the right-field line, pushing the advantage to four.
The Commodores totaled 11 hits including two from Stephen Scott (2-for-6) who belted his 15th home run of the season while becoming the fifth Vandy player in the last four years to hit as many.
JJ Bleday (2-for-5) closed his season by reaching base in a 28th-consecutive game while Harrison Ray (2-for-5) scored twice. Austin Martin (1-for-4) drove in one as did Julian Infante (1-for-3).
MSU’s Rowdy Jordan (3-for-4) and Jordan Westburg (2-for-4) drove in two runs apiece while nine different players scored at least one run. Jake Mangum (2-for-6) scored twice and drove in another.
Vandy closes its season having advanced to a SEC-best 13th-consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Commodores’ Super Regional appearance was their seventh in the last nine seasons.
