Vanderbilt’s Season Comes To An End After Losing To Oregon State 7-6 In Regionals

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt baseball’s season has come to a close after dropping the winner-take-all game 7-6 to No. 3 Oregon State in the Corvallis Regionals.

Vandy kicked off regionals with a 3-2 loss to San Diego but went on to win its next three games against New Mexico State, San Diego again and Oregon State.

Monday’s elimination game started off with Sophomore pitcher Christian Little taking the mound and giving up a leadoff home run to Justin Boyd, giving the Beavers an early 1-0 lead. Little went on to pitch three innings, giving up one run on 70 pitches.

In the fourth inning, the Dores got on the board off a Spencer Jones two-run home run. Vandy reliever Patrick Reilly came in and gave up a one-out double in the fourth, then a two-out single to Kyle Dernedde allowing Oregon State to tie the game at 2-2.

In the fifth inning with two outs, Enrique Bradfield Jr. made a jump for third and, on an errant throw to second to try to get Javier Vaz out, Bradfield came in to score, giving the Commodores a 3-2 lead.

Jacob Melton responded for the Beavers by launching a one-out, two-run homer in the bottom half to make it a 4-3 game. Kyle Dernedde’s two-run single with the bases loaded later in the inning made it 6-3. Vanderbilt was never able to retake the lead, even after scoring three runs, two of which were unearned. 

In the bottom of the seventh with the game tied at 6-6, Matthew Gretler hit a solo home run to call game for the Beavers.

Jones was named Corvallis Regional Most Outstanding Player, even with Vanderbilt failing to advance. Vaz, Devin Futrell, Tate Kolwyck, and Parker Noland were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Commodores finished their lackluster season with a record of 39-23.

Steven Boero