Vanderbilt Headed to Omaha!

Vanderbilt earned its first ever bid to the College Baseball World Series on Saturday with a 9-3 victory over Oregon State. Look inside for commentary and photos of the huge Commodore victory.

In an effort to lock up Vanderbilt's first College World Series berth, SEC Pitcher of the Year Grayson Garvin took the mound to face freshmen Ben Wetzler. There was a question of who would start for the Beavers leading up to the game as usual No. 2 starter Josh Osich was out with an injury and James Nygren pitched in relief in Friday's 11-1 Vanderbilt victory.

Aaron Westlake led the Commodores with three home runs and 6 RBI's. Anthony Gomez also had a hot bat, going 6-4 with 2 RBI's. Will Clinard pitched excellently in relief throwing 4.2 innings with 8 strike outs giving up just two hits.

A two run shot by Aaron Westlake gave Vanderbilt an early 2-0 lead in the first. Oregon State responded quickly, Parker Berberet capitalized off an Anthony Gomez error hitting an RBI single to right to bring the score to 2-1.

Pitching owned the second inning as both teams left runners who doubled stranded on 2nd.

Garvin got into trouble with no outs and bases loaded in the third. Berberet tabbed his second RBI with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. Garvin got out of the inning striking out Andrew Susac and a fielder’s choice ground out to 2nd.

Vanderbilt was unable to score after loading the bases with one out in the fourth. Riley Reynolds popped out to shortstop and Tony Kemp grounded out to second.

Vandy took advantage of another freshmen Beaver pitcher Scott Shultz in the fifth. A Gomez double to left and sacrifice bunt by Casali set up an Esposito single to give the Dores a 3-2 lead.

Vandy got into trouble again in the fifth after a Ryan Dunn double and pair of walks loaded the bases. Will Clinard relieved Garvin to get a strike out and pop out to end the inning.

The Vandy offense broke things open with four runs in the sixth. Connor Harrell hit a single and advanced to second off an error. A sacrifice bunt by Riley Reynolds advanced Harrell to third. Tony Kemp walked and stole second to put runners on second and third. Gomez brought them home with a 2 RBI single. Oregon State sent in Matt Boyd in relief to face Westlake who greeted him with a 2 RBI homerun to put the Commodores up 7-2.

Westlake wasn't done yet, hitting his third 2 RBI homerun of the night in the eighth bringing the lead to 9-2. Carter Bell answered with a solo shot of his own to bring the game to 9-3.

Vanderbilt's first opponent in Omaha will be the North Carolina Tar Heels(50-14).