2021 College World Series Championship Series Game 2: No. 7 Mississippi State 13, No. 4 Vanderbilt 2 (box score) (photo courtesy of NCAA)
Scotty Dubrule drove in four, including a two-run single to highlight a four-run third, as MSU evened the CWS Championship Series with Vandy.
“Big bounce-back game from our guys,” said MSU head coach Chris Lemonis, “just resilient group. We’ve had our back against the wall feels like all year long and they just keep responding. As a coach, you couldn’t be more proud of your kids, the way they came out and competed.”
The teams will play a final game on Wednesday to determine the national championship.
Following a two-hour rain delay, Luke Hancock had an RBI single in the bottom of the first for the Bulldogs before a homer by CJ Rodriguez in the second tied the game at 1-1.
MSU took the lead for good in the third. Logan Tanner drew a walk with the bases loaded before a single by Dubrule plated two. Dubrule would later score on a wild pitch to make it 5-1.
“We were just going to stay in the moment,” Dubrule said. “Just stick to our approaches and look for good pitches to hit. You’re really not trying to complicate things. You just keep doing the same thing you’ve been doing all year and it clicked for us tonight.”
In the fourth, Dubrule knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice before Kamren James and Hancock added RBI singles in the fifth for an 8-1 lead.
Dubrule had an RBI single and Lane Forsythe brought home two with a base hit as part of a five-run seventh as the advantage grew to 13-1.
Maxwell Romero Jr. went deep in the ninth for Vandy to make the final 13-2.
“Just a tough night all the way around,” VU head coach Tim Corbin said. “We didn’t do much of anything real well at all. So we have to regroup quick and concern ourselves with tomorrow.”
Preston Johnson (4-0) earned the win in relief, going the final five innings with two hits, one run, two walks and seven strikeouts.
“Coming in, I was just like pound the zone,” Johnson said. “Lemonis made it very clear. His go-to is pound the zone and we’ll have a good chance to win. That’s what I wanted to do for the team. And it was a dream come true to be out there and get in front of that crowd. It was like a home game. It was nice.”
Tanner Allen had two hits and scored four times for the Dawgs.