2021 College World Series Game 11: No. 4 Vanderbilt 3, NC State 1 (box score) (photo courtesy of NCAA)
Following an hour delay for NC State to deal with COVID issues, Kumar Rocker fanned 11 in 6.0 innings as Vandy posted a 3-1 win to force a final matchup on Saturday for a spot in the CWS Championship Series.
“Just a very tough ball game,” Vandy head coach Tim Corbin said. “I thought we pitched extremely well. We held it together in tough situations. Kumar getting us deep into the ball game, gave us everything he had and kept them down.”
The Wolfpack (37-19) had 13 players available, including nine field players and four pitchers.
Rocker allowed five hits, one walk and one run to improve his record to 14-3.
“I think we knew what was ahead of us when we showed up at the field,” Rocker said. “We’re a tough group. And we’re going to continue to be one.”
The Commodores (48-16) started the scoring in the fourth. Dominic Keegan reached on an error, was sacrificed to second, moved to third on a groundout and came home on a single by CJ Rodriguez to make it 1-0. Rodriguez scored later in the frame on a wild pitch to give Vandy a 2-0 advantage.
Carson Falsken had a bunt single to lead off the fifth and came home on a sacrifice fly by DeAngelo Giles as the Wolfpack pulled within one at 2-1.
Vandy added an insurance run in the sixth as Javier Vaz drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a base hit by Parker Noland to give the Commodores a 3-1 edge.
Luke Murphy (2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, K) earned his ninth save. NC State stranded nine over the final four frames, unable to catch Vandy.
Sam Highfill, a starting pitcher for the Wolfpack, played first base and went 3 for 4 in his first plate appearances of the season.
“When I went up there I was looking for a fastball,” Highfill said. “I went off of the words from my teammates, what they were seeing. The idea was we have to hit the fastballs early because his breaking ball is really good.”
Garrett Payne (0-1) allowed one earned run over five innings with two hits, three walks and three strikeouts for NC State. Dalton Feeney (4 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K) finished the game for the Wolfpack.
“Hard-fought game against one of the great pitchers in college baseball,” NC State head coach Elliott Avent said. “I thought our guys fought it with everything they had. When you’re going against a guy like Kumar Rocker you can’t leave 12 men on base.”