Saturday, June 5, 2010

Vanderbilt Loses 7-1 to Louisville: Will Have to Advance to the Super Regional the Hard Way

The Commodores have to win 3 straight, including 2 over #7 national seed Louisville who will likely send ace Thomas Royce to the hill tomorrow, with a depleted pitching staff if they are going to advance in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville came to play and led from the beginning on a 3 run blast by Phil Wunderlich in the bottom of the 1st inning. The Cardinals never trailed and won the game 7-1. Twice, in both the 7th and 8th innings, the Commodores had the tying run at the plate. Alas, no one was able to get a run home. The Commodores only offense came from Jason Esposito, who's solo shot to left center in the 4th, put Vanderbilt's only run on the board.

The Commodores managed just 4 hits, and had only 9 base runners all game. Costly double plays, great defense from Louisville's shortstop Adam Duvall (who had 7 assists), and fantastic pitching from the Cardinal's pitchers spelled trouble for Vanderbilt. The Commdores will face Illinois State tomorrow at 11 central in the first (of hopefully their next 3) elimination games. Starting pitcher is likely to be game one hero Jack Armstrong. Given how lethargic the Commodores bats have been, maybe Corbin should forgo the DH and just let Armstong hit.

Illinois State defeated St. Louis 8-3 to send the Billikens home.

1 comment:

FiveStarDore said...

The Dores were never in this game. I was there in person and they had our number from the first inning. The Cardinals pitching was excellent, but there were numerous innings that ended after poor plate appearances by the Dores.

The crowd was full and vocal from the start, though there was a considerable Vanderbilt presence. The team will need to show up in a big way tomorrow afternoon. If they survive a rematch with the redbirds, they play the Cards again. Playing the same script over and over every year once we reach the postseason is beiginning to wear on me.

This offense looks as ineffective as Bobby Johnson's and this team is looking as inept in the postseason as Kevin Stallings'. I realize that this is all coming out of me in a moment of intense frustration with Vandy sports, but this sucks.

WHO YA WITH?! VU!!!