Response delivered.
Vanderbilt ran away in Game 1 of the College World Series finals on Monday to ultimately win the game 8-2. The Bulldogs countered on Tuesday with a blowout win of their own, jumping ahead in a four-run third inning and never taking their foot off the pedal to blow out the defending champion Commodores 13-2 to force a decisive Game 3 on Wednesday.
Vanderbilt pitching certainly did themselves no favors. Ten walks were issued during the outing — including eight by the first two pitchers, Christian Little and Patrick Reilly, who allowed six of the 13 runs during the day.
The Bulldogs had jumped out to an early lead when, after an error allowed Kamren James to reach first, Luke Hancock lined a single into right that allowed James to score. Commodore catcher CJ Rodriguez homered in the top of the second to tie the game, but the Bulldogs rocked Vanderbilt in the third, scoring first on a bases-loaded walk, then on an two-RBI single from Scotty Dubrule, who later scored on a wild pitch to take a 5-1 lead.
Mississippi State added a run on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning and two more on back-to-back RBI singles from James and Hancock to make it an 8-1 lead. With the game well out of hand, the Bulldogs tacked on five more in the seventh to extend the lead out to 13-1.
Now the attention turns to Wednesday as three of the best arms in college baseball await possible usage. Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker hasn’t pitched since Friday against N.C. State, while Mississippi State starter Will Bednar and reliever Landon Sims haven’t pitched since Saturday against Texas.
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College World Series finals live updates, highlights from Game 2
12:40 a.m.: Isaiah Thomas grounds out, and Mississippi State wins Game 2 13-2.
12:39 a.m.: Cooper Davis walks to give the Commodores a baserunner with two out in the ninth.
12:36 a.m. Vanderbilt scoring play: Maxwell Romero Jr. launches a home run to deep right field. Commodores back on the board for the first time since the second inning. Mississippi State still leads 13-2.
12:35 a.m.: Jack Bulger pops out in foul territory. Two down.
12:34 a.m.: Jones strikes out. One away.
12:30 a.m. End of Eighth: On to the final inning as Dubrule lines out to third. Mississippi State is three outs away from officially tying this series at one win a piece and forcing a decisive Game 3 on Wednesday.
12:28 a.m.: Tanner doubles to left with two outs. Now every hitter in the starting lineup has a hit for the Bulldogs.
12:24 a.m.: Danye Evans comes in to pitch for the Commodores.
12:22 a.m. End Top Eighth: A quick 1-2-3 inning for Johnson. On to the bottom of the eighth.
12:16 a.m. End of Seventh: Mercifully, the inning comes to a close on a flyout to left. Vanderbilt batting again in the top of the eighth.
12:15 a.m. Mississippi State scoring play. Jordan now the eighth Bulldog starter to pick up a hit in this one. He drives in Brayland Skinner, pinch-running for Cumbest, to make it a 12-run lead. Mississippi State extends lead to 13-1.
12:13 a.m. Mississippi State scoring play. This is getting out of hand. Forsythe singles up the middle to plate two more. Mississippi State extends lead to 12-1.
12:10 a.m.: Cumbest is hit by a pitch on a full count. Bases loaded with one out for Clark.
12:07 a.m. Mississippi State scoring play: Dubrule lines a base hit into center to score Hatcher. Runners on first and second with an out. Mississippi State extends lead to 10-1.
12:05 a.m.: Tanner walks to put runners on the corners. Still only one out in the inning. That is walk No. 10 allowed by Commodore pitching.
12:03 a.m. Mississippi State scoring play: Josh Hatcher pinch runs for Hancock and steals a base. The throw hits Hancock and deflects into left field, allowing Allen to score and Hatcher to move up to third. Mississippi State extends lead to 9-1.
12:00 a.m.: Hancock walks on four pitches.
11:59 p.m.: Allen steals third base after a strikeout. One out, Hancock at the plate with a chance for Mississippi State to add another run.
11:58 p.m.: Another wild pitch and Allen again advances to second base. He’s taken advantage of that several times tonight.
11:56 p.m.: Allen hit with a pitch to lead off the inning.
11:54 p.m.: Vanderbilt brings in Hunter Owen to pitch. All four pitchers the Commodores have rolled out today have been freshmen.
11:52 p.m. End Top Seventh: Johnson gets a flyout and two strikeouts to post a 1-2-3 inning and keep the Commodores off the scoreboard for another inning.
11:45 p.m. End of Sixth: Strikeout looking ends the sixth. That strikeout by Berkwich makes history as Vanderbilt now has collected 78 strikeouts as a staff during the 2021 College World Series.
Vanderbilt has set a College World Series record with 78 strikeouts, breaking the previous mark held by Arizona State (77) in 1967
— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) June 30, 2021
11:42 p.m.: Forsythe lines a base hit to single after a force out to keep the inning alive. Two outs with runners on first and second in the sixth inning for the Bulldogs.
11:39 p.m.: Cumbest joins the hit parade for Mississippi State. He’s the seventh Bulldog tonight with a base hit as he singles to right with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
11:34 p.m. End Top Sixth: Johnson gets Rodriguez swinging to leave a runner on. Bulldogs in complete command heading into the bottom of the frame.
11:30 p.m.: Spencer Jones works a walk after a groundout starts the inning for Vanderbilt. One on, one away for the Commodores.
11:24 p.m. End of Fifth: Tanner strikes out swinging to end the inning. Mississippi State scores for the third straight frame and is walking away with this game so far.
11:22 p.m. Mississippi State scoring play: Hancock drives in another as he slaps a base hit the other way to score Allen and put runners on the corners. Mississippi State extends lead to 8-1.
11:20 p.m. Mississippi State scoring play: James singles up the middle to drive in Forsythe. Runners again on first and second with two away in the bottom of the fifth. Mississippi State extends lead to 7-1.
11:19 p.m.: After a flyout for the second out, Allen lines a base hit into left field to put Bulldogs on first and second.
11:16 p.m.: Forsythe beats out an infield single with one out.
11:12 p.m. End Top Fifth: Johnson strikes out Young on a breaking ball to leave Bradfield on third. Bulldogs back at the plate after scoring in back-to-back innings.
11:10 p.m.: Bradfield lifts a high fly into right field that Allen can’t get to. Bradfield races around for a standup triple with two outs.
11:06 p.m.: Preston Johnson has been called on to pitch to start the fifth inning for Mississippi State.
11:04 p.m. End of Fourth: Cumbest strikes out swinging to end the inning, but the Bulldogs extend their advantage out to a five-run lead with five runs left to go.
11:01 p.m. Mississippi State scoring play: Dubrule nearly grounds into a double play, but he’s able to beat the throw to first on the 6-4-3 attempt. Run comes across to score and now runners on the corners for Cumbest. Mississippi State extends lead to 6-1.
10:58 p.m.: Tanner pops out in foul territory to Young. No advance by the Bulldog baserunners. Dubrule batting with the bases loaded, one away.
10:54 p.m.: Nelson Berkwich coming into the game now for Vanderbilt.
10:53 p.m.: Another walk. Bases loaded with nobody out for the second straight inning. Tanner batting now with a chance to really blow the doors open in this game for Mississippi State.
10:51 p.m.: James steals second to now give the Bulldogs two runners in scoring position for Hancock.
10:50 p.m.: James walks as well. Seven walks now from Vanderbilt pitching to tie a season high. Runners on the corners for Hancock with no one out.
10:50 p.m.: Wild pitch by Reilly allows Allen to move up to second. Rodriguez tries to nab him advancing to second and throws the ball into center, allowing Allen to advance to third.
10:47 p.m.: Allen walks to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. That’s the sixth walk issued by Vanderbilt pitching tonight.
10:43 p.m. End Top Fourth: Harding gets Vaz to strike out and he strands a pair to end the frame.
10:41 p.m.: Rodriguez strikes out swinging at a pitch up out of the zone. Two out in the top of the fourth.
10:39 p.m.: A review of the play shows Kolwyck is out at second base. Runners still on the corners, one out.
10:36 p.m.: Parker Noland grounds to first and a force out is made at second, but Noland is able to beat the throw out to first to put runners on the corners with one away.
10:33 p.m.: Tate Kolwyck singles into center to put two runners on base with no one out. Commodores showing some life after giving up four in the bottom of the third.
10:32 p.m.: Keegan walks to lead off the fourth for Vanderbilt.
10:29 p.m. End of Third: Jordan grounds out to the pitcher and Reilly is able to limit the damage, but the Bulldogs have their big inning and now lead 5-1.
10:27 p.m.: Reilly gets Forsythe swinging for the second out of the inning. Jordan now up to bat with two runners in scoring position.
10:26 p.m. Mississippi State scoring play: Wild pitch by Reilly scores a run and moves two more base runners into scoring position. Mississippi State extends lead to 5-1.
10:24 p.m.: Clark walks and the bases are loaded again.
10:21 p.m.: Young fields the slow roller and shovels it over to third base to get the force out. Runners on first and second still with one out.
10:19 p.m.: Foul ball. Cumbest back in the batter’s box with a 1-2 count.
10:15 p.m.: Cumbest swings at a pitch that hits him in the shoulder on a 1-2 count. Question is whether he fouled the ball off. Umpires reviewing the play. If it didn’t hit the bat, it would be a strikeout and a swing and a miss.
10:11 p.m. Mississippi State scoring play: Dubrule bounces a base hit off the foot of Reilly that deflects into right for a base hit, scoring two more baserunners. Still two on and no one out with Brad Cumbest up to bat. Mississippi State extends lead to 4-1.
10:07 p.m. Mississippi State scoring play: Little watches Allen on four pitches to bring in a run and give the Bulldogs the lead. He’s walked three straight batters and Tim Corbin is coming out to bring in Reilly. Mississippi State takes a 2-1 lead.
10:04 p.m.: Little has now issued his second straight walk, this time to Hancock, to load up the bases with nobody out. A visit to the mound by the pitching coach as Patrick Reilly warms up in the bullpen for Vanderbilt.
10:00 p.m.: James walks on a full count pitch well outside the zone to put two runners on with no one out. That brings in Hancock, who drove in the opening run of this game in the first inning.
9:58 p.m.: Allen gets a quick read on a ball in the dirt and is able to beat a throw down to second base by Rodriguez to be safe at the bag. Now a runner in scoring position and a 3-0 count for James.
9:56 p.m.: Ground ball by Allen to shortstop gets stuck in the webbing of Young’s glove and Allen is able to reach base to leadoff the inning. It’s being ruled a hit.
9:53 p.m. End Top Third: Young grounds into a forceout to third to end the Vanderbilt half of the third. Bulldogs batting with Allen, James and Hancock due up.
9:50 p.m.: Bradfield flies out to center. Two out with a runner still on first.
9:48 p.m.: Gonzalez walks to give Vanderbilt a baserunner with one away in the top of third inning for Bradfield.
9:43 p.m. End of Second: Jordan grounds out to strand a runner at third base. Commodores back up to bat in the third in a tie game at one apiece.
9:42 p.m.: Flyout to right moves Clark up to third base with two outs now for the top of the order.
9:39 p.m.: Kellum Clark nearly goes yard, but bounces a double off the right field wall. Runner in scoring position for the Bulldogs with only one out.
9:35 p.m. End Top Second: Javier Vaz flies out to center on the second pitch he sees, but the damage is done as the Commodores strike right back to knot this game up at one.
9:34 p.m. Vanderbilt scoring play: CJ Rodriguez lifts a high fly to left field that carries out over the wall to tie up the game. Vanderbilt ties the game 1-1.
9:29 p.m. End of First: Little gets Scotty Dubrule to swing and miss on a breaking ball to strand a pair of runners on first and second. But the Bulldogs take a 1-0 lead early in Game 2.
9:25 p.m.: Logan Tanner walks on four pitches to put runners on first and second. Little already up to 21 pitches in the first inning.
9:23 p.m. Mississippi State scoring play: That error comes back to bite Vanderbilt. Luke Hancock singles to right field and the throw misses the cutoff man, allowing James to score from first. Second straight game he has scored in the first inning to put the Bulldogs out in front. Mississippi State takes a 1-0 lead.
9:21 p.m.: Throwing error by Jayson Gonzalez allows Kamren James to reach first base with two away.
9:19 p.m.: Little picks up his first strikeout of the game, catching the corner to get Tanner Allen looking for the second out.
9:17 p.m.: Christian Little starts Rowdey Jordan 3-0, but throws back-to-back strikes, the latter of the two Jordan flying out to center field.
9:14 p.m. End Top First: Harding blows a fastball by Dominic Keegan to retire the side.
9:11 p.m.: Houston Harding throws the next three pitches in for strikes and Bradfield goes down on strikes for the first out of the game. Carter Young grounds out on the second pitch he sees for two outs in the first inning.
9:10 p.m.: High fastball to Enrique Bradfield Jr. to start the game.
9:01 p.m.: Less than 10 minutes now from the start of Game 2 of the 2021 College World Series.
8:45 p.m.: The tarp is coming off the field at TD Ameritrade Park.
8:30 p.m.: The College World Series will be starting up at 9:10 p.m. ET.
8:21 p.m.: The start of Game 2 continues to remain without an official time due to the weather delay. A recent report from the Lincoln Journal Star says that members of the grounds crew are out on the field.
No updates from the NCAA yet. A few grounds crew members on the field at the moment.
— Luke Mullin (@lmullin7) June 30, 2021
7:26 p.m.: There’s still no update yet as to when the College World Series will resume. According to the Weather Channel, thunderstorms will end around 7:30 p.m., so it should not be too far off from starting up.
6:46 p.m.: For the second straight day, the College World Series will begin in a weather delay.
6:40 p.m.: Here’s a look at how the lineups are going to be for the second game of the College World Series finals.
How to watch 2021 College World Series finals Game 2
ESPN continues its coverage of the College World Series with the second game of the series set to air on ESPN. ESPN2 will show the third game of the series, should Mississippi State even up the series Tuesday.
Viewers will also be able to stream the College World Series finals on ESPN+ or fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial.
College World Series schedule, scores
Monday, June 28
Score |
Vanderbilt 8, Mississippi State 2 |
Tuesday, June 29
Score |
Mississippi State 13, Vanderbilt 2 |
Wednesday, June 30
Game | Time (Channel) |
Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State | 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2) |