Omaha, NE (SportsNetwork.com) – Vanderbilt is celebrating a men’s team national championship for the first time in school history.<\/p>\n
John Norwood smacked the tie-breaking solo homer in the eighth inning and the Commodores beat Virginia, 3-2, in the deciding Game 3 Wednesday night at the College World Series.<\/p>\n
Norwood, a junior from Seton Hall Prep, belted a 1-0 offering from Nick Howard over the wall in left field with one out.<\/p>\n
Adam Ravenelle then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth. A wild celebration ensued at the mound after Ravenelle struck out Daniel Pinero to end the game.<\/p>\n
Prior to Wednesday, Vanderbilt’s only team national title for came in women’s bowling in 2007. Vanderbilt’s 2003 men’s tennis team made it to the NCAA championship before losing.<\/p>\n
“There’s a toughness team character trait that grew with this team,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said.<\/p>\n
Norwood’s hit off a 97 mph fastball was his third of the night.<\/p>\n
“I just hoped it wouldn’t have enough top spin that it would hit the fence,” Corbin said.<\/p>\n
The Commodores then had to sweat out the bottom portion of the inning.<\/p>\n
Mike Papi singled to left off winning pitcher Hayden Stone. Joe McCarthy then walked and Ravenelle came in from the bullpen. Derek Fisher advanced the runners with a sacrifice and the bases were filled when Kenny Towns was hit by a pitch.<\/p>\n
John La Prise then hit a bouncer back to the mound. Ravenelle came home for the force, but the throw to first was a bit late. Brandon Downes had a chance to tie the game for the Cavaliers, but he grounded into a force play as shortstop Vince Conde threw to second baseman Dansby Swanson in plenty of time.<\/p>\n
“We had opportunities. It just didn’t happen for us. It wasn’t for a lack of effort or right approach. The credit goes go Vanderbilt. They made some outstanding pitches in the clutch,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said.<\/p>\n
Virginia, which was trying for its first national title in baseball, lifted starting pitcher Josh Sborz after one inning. Artie Lewicki pitched the next six innings.<\/p>\n
Carson Fulmer fanned five over the first 5 1\/3 frames for Vandy.<\/p>\n
Swanson claimed the honor of Most Outstanding Player at the CWS. He legged out an infield single in the first inning. Bryan Reynolds walked with one out. They pulled off a double-steal, and when catcher Robbie Coman threw the ball into center field, Swanson scored, but Reynolds was out at third.<\/p>\n
Downes struck out to leave a runner at third to end the second inning.<\/p>\n
Conde’s infield single to deep shortstop plated Norwood in the sixth, but the Cavaliers tied it in the bottom portion. Pinero’s base hit to right-center scored Coman, who singled to start the inning. Pinero stole second. After Papi walked and McCarthy was hit by a pitch, Fisher struck out. Towns then hit a low liner to Conde, who couldn’t handle the ball cleanly and everybody was safe. Stone managed to keep the game tied by fanning La Prise.<\/p>\n
“We never got that really big hit to bust it open,” McCarthy said.<\/p>\n
The baseball title drought continues for the ACC. Wake Forest was the last team from the conference to win the championship in 1955.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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