SCORE: Vanderbilt 7, Missouri 6.
RUNDOWN: Vanderbilt came back from a four-run deficit late in the game to defeat Missouri, 7-6, in extra innings in the 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament.
Rhett Wiseman was the hero for second-seeded Vanderbilt (40-17) with a solo home run to end the game in the 10th inning. It was the fourth home run of the day for the Commodores, an impressive feat given that none of the five games prior featured a single home run.
Vanderbilt looked like it’d start its 2015 tourney campaign with a loss, but a wacky play in the bottom of the ninth inning saved the Commodores. Vanderbilt was down to its last strike when pinch hitter Penn Murfee‘s single to center field bounced off Jake Ring‘s knee and allowed Jordan Rogers to score from second.
Vanderbilt starter Tyler Ferguson lasted a mere 1 1/3 innings, but steady bullpen efforts from Jordan Sheffield (five scoreless innings) and Kyle Wright got the job done. Wright (5-1) got the win for 2/3 inning of work in the 10th inning.
Missouri closer Breckin Williams (4-4) got the loss after being unable to close off the ninth inning and ultimately giving up a home run to Wiseman.
KEY MOMENT: Wiseman’s home run to center field — just beyond the outstretched arm of Missouri center-fielder Jake Ring — gave the Commodores the improbable comeback victory.
CLUTCH HITTER: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson showed off serious power Wednesday afternoon. Swanson had the tournament’s first home run in the first inning, an absolute bomb to left field. Later in the eighth inning, Swanson added a solo home run to cut Vandy’s deficit to one run.
DIAMOND ACE: Jordan Sheffield came in at a critical time for the Commodores and more than delivered. After Ryan Johnson gave up four runs to give Missouri a 6-2 lead, Sheffield came in and pitched five strong innings to keep Vanderbilt in the game.
He finished the game giving up only one hit, walking two and striking out four batters.
WHAT’s NEXT: Vanderbilt will face Texas A&M in the second game of Thursday’s action. Missouri will face Alabama in a win-or-go-home game at 9:30 a.m. CT.
