Vanderbilt took down Mississippi State in the College World Series winner’s bracket, powered by a big night from Steven Scott. In the second inning, Scott kicked things off with a solo homer on a low breaking ball. Mississippi State pitchers kept going to curveballs, and Vanderbilt hitters kept crushing them. In the fourth, Vanderbilt loaded the bases with smart, patient hitting. Mississippi State escaped that inning without major damage thanks to a solid play at short, but the fifth inning unraveled.
It started when a Mississippi State pitcher hit a batter in the helmet. The next hitter ripped a double into right-center, driving in the run and flipping the momentum. Vanderbilt kept the pressure on as Mississippi State failed to make clean defensive plays and continued to leave hanging curveballs over the plate. Late in the game, Scott came up again and smashed his second homer of the night, again on a breaking ball. Mississippi State’s decision to keep throwing the same pitch backfired over and over.
Vanderbilt closed it out with a routine pop-up to secure the win. They move forward in the winner’s bracket, while Mississippi State drops to the loser’s side and has to fight their way back. Scott finished with two home runs and set the tone for a dominant offensive outing.