Tournament Team
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and regained its composure to record a 7-3 victory over top-seeded
Virginia in a decisive Game 6 contest in the Charlottesville Regional at
Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Both teams traded
three-run sides in the first inning before the Commodores posted four
runs in the final eight innings to claim a four-run victory to win the
Regional. Vanderbilt (45-17) will move on to face Texas in the NCAA Super
Regionals on June 11-13, while Virginia (44-15) put the wraps on one of
the most successful seasons in school history as it was eliminated from
the NCAA Tournament.
"I thought the first inning was very, very emotional for both teams," said
Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. "I brought the team in after we had the
little train wreck and just tried to settled everyone down. Once we settled
down, particularly Matt (Buschmann), I thought we did a great job of
regrouping."
Vanderbilt jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning after
a pair of RBI-doubles by Warner Jones and Aaron Garza. Jones drove in
Ryan Klosterman, who singled to left field to reach base to start off the
game, with a RBI-double down the left field line to make it 1-0 before
Garza connected on a two-run double to a gap in right-center field to score
Jones and Cesar Nicholas who walked to reach base.
Virginia came right back and scored three unearned runs on just one hit
and made the Commodores pay for three costly errors. Three consecutive
Cavaliers (Matt Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Koshansky) scored a
run to tie the game at 3-3. Dunn and Koshansky each scored a run on
Vanderbilt fielding errors while Zimmerman scored on a sacrifice fly to
right field by Matt Street.
But the Commodores answered back with a run in the top of the second
inning to regain the lead at 4-3 when three consecutive Vanderbilt batters
singled, with the third hit resulting in a RBI-single to left-center field by
Jones to drive in Klosterman. Jones' hit proved to be the game-winner.
Vanderbilt extended its lead to 5-3 in the top of the fourth inning when
Jonathan Douillard led-off the side with a single to left field before he
scored a run four batters later on a RBI-single to left field by Nicholas.
The Commodores stretched their lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh
inning when Nicholas doubled to left field to lead-off the side before he
came around to score a run two batters later on a RBI, sacrifice fly ball to
center field by Garza. Vanderbilt added another run in the top of the eighth
inning and made it a 7-3 ballgame when Worth Scott dropped a shallow
double into center field and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly to
center field by Klosterman to give the Commodores a four-run lead. That
would be enough scoring for Vanderbilt as it closed out the game to
secure the four-run victory.
"In a game like this where a team is fighting to stay in, when you get a run
here and there late in the game it really helps," said Corbin.
UVa starting pitcher Chris Gale lasted just 1.0 inning before being
replaced by Scott Morgenthaler (1-1) who took the loss after going 2.2
innings. Morgenthaler allowed two runs on seven hits in the loss.
Vanderbilt starting pitcher Matt Bushmann (8-1) picked up the win after
tossing 6.2 innings. He allowed three runs, all unearned, on five hits and
struck out four batters in the victory.
"The players have captured this community and that is a big part of
building a national, powerful baseball program," said Virginia head
baseball coach Brian O'Connor. "This community has rallied around this
team, and I am excited for the future."
With the victory, Vanderbilt's record improves to 45-17 overall. The
Commodores finished 3-0 in the NCAA Regional. The loss drops
Virginia's record to 44-15 overall. The Cavaliers went 2-2 in the
Charlottesville Regional.
2004 Charlottesville Regional All-Tournament Team
Position Player School
Catcher Scott Headd Virginia
First Base Joe Koshansky Virginia
Second Base Warner Jones Vanderbilt
Shortstop Ryan Klosterman Vanderbilt
Third Base Ryan Zimmerman Virginia
Outfield Worth Scott Vanderbilt
Outfield Aaron Garza Vanderbilt
Outfield Tim Henry Virginia
Outfield Antoan Richardson Vanderbilt
Designated Hitter Cesar Nicolas Vanderbilt
Pitcher Matt Avery Virginia
Pitcher Jeremy Sowers Vanderbilt