UC Irvine Drops 6-4 Decision to Vanderbilt at CWS
June 16, 2014 | Baseball
CWS Tournament Central
Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. --- UC Irvine was overtaken by Vanderbilt's three-run rally in the fifth inning and fell to the Commodores, 6-4, in the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha Monday night.
"This game was surprisingly a close score, because, I promise you, it felt like a root canal," said head coach Mike Gillespie. "I think Vanderbilt was very impressive up and down their lineup. They executed. And I think the score just wasn't indicative of the difference between the two teams tonight."
The Anteaters (41-24) will face Texas in an elimination game Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. (PT) that will be carried by ESPN and KUCI/88.9 FM. UCI defeated the Longhorns, 3-1, in the opening game of the CWS Saturday. Texas (44-20) topped Louisville, 4-1, in an elimination game earlier Monday.
Vanderbilt (48-19) took a 2-0 lead on UCI in the top of the first on a walk, two singles and two sacrifices before the 'Eaters struck back with four runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Jonathan Munoz was hit by a pitch with one out and he advanced to third on a single to right by Grant Palmer.
Kris Paulino followed with a single to right, scoring Munoz and advancing Palmer to second. Palmer then moved to third on a wild pitch and he scored on a squeeze by Adam Alcantara with Paulino going to second.
Another wild pitch sent Paulino to third and Alcantara to second. After Justin Castro lined out to center for the second out, Taylor Sparks singled up the middle to score Paulino and Alcantara for a 4-2 UCI lead.
The three singles by the 'Eaters in the second inning would be their only hits of the evening.
The Commodores regained the lead in the top of the fifth with three runs.
Dansby Swanson led off with a double down the left-field line and moved to third on a single by Bryan Reynolds.
Vince Conde grounded out to short, scoring Swanson with Reynolds moving to second. Zander Wiel then doubled to left field as Reynolds scored.
Xavier Turner walked and Rhett Wiseman was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Evan Brock then came on relief of Anteater starter Elliot Surrey. John Norwood flew out to right and Wiel was able to score to give Vanderbilt a 5-4 lead. Brock then recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
The Commodores tacked on another run in the seventh as Wiseman hit a two-out double down the right-field line, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Norwood to put Vanderbilt up 6-4.
Walker Buehler (12-2) picked up the win in relief for Vanderbilt, pitching hitless ball over the last 5 1/3 innings while striking out eight and walking two.
Surrey took the loss for UCI, allowing five runs (all earned) and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in falling to 8-5 on the season.
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