Vanderbilt seals CWS title with resounding win

Vanderbilt won its second national title in six years by defeating Michigan, 8-2, in the third and decisive game of the 2019 College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday night.

After dropping the series opener on Monday, 7-4, the Commodores bounced back to take Game 2 on Tuesday by the final of 4-1.

In Wednesday's clincher, starter Mason Hickman was brilliant, yielding one run on four hits, walking three and striking out 10 over six innings before Jake Eder took it the rest of the way.

Prior to the series, there had been seven pitchers to ever turn in a double-digit strikeout performance in a College World Series Finals game. That number increased to nine after Hickman achieved the feat a day after Kumar Rocker struck out 11 for Vanderbilt.

Meanwhile, Pat Demarco hit a solo home run in the second inning to tie the game, 1-1, before drawing a bases-loaded walk as part of a three-run third inning for the Commodores. Stephen Scott, JJ Bleday, Harrison Ray and Philip Clarke all contributed RBI singles, with Ethan Paul adding a sacrifice fly.

Michigan's scoring came courtesy of Jordan Brewer’s RBI single in the first inning and Blake Nelson’s double in the eighth.