CLEMSON -- For the third straight year Clemson has hosted a regional and not advanced out of it. The Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the Tigers 19-6 Sunday night to eliminate Monte Lee and company in a deja vu experience for many Tiger fans.
Vanderbilt eliminated Clemson in the regional last season with an 8-0 victory.
Stephen Scott got things started early for the Commodores with a solo shot over the Cajun Cafe in right field to give them a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Connor Kaiser would open the game up for the 'Dores in the top of the 3rd inning with a three-run shot to the left field stands giving them a 4-0 lead. Clarke would follow him up with a solo shot to left field, thus ending Spencer Strider's night for the Tigers.
Chris Williams got Clemson on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run bomb to left field, cutting their deficit down to just three runs. In the top of the fifth, though, Clarke would hit a solo shot to right-center field and extending the Commodores lead back to four runs; making it 6-2 in favor of Vandy.
Clemson got the bottom of the fifth started in promising fashion with back-to-back singles from Wharton and Byrd with no outs. Greene struck out swinging in the next at-bat but Robert Jolly would get a single after him to load the bases with one out.
Kier Meredith took a pitch to the elbow to walk in a run for the Tigers with one out. No further damage was done though with Davidson striking out swinging and Beer flying out to center field, both with the bases loaded.
And then the top of the sixth happened...Martin got things started for Vandy with a double that scored Ray from first who was walked on four straight balls.
Then, later in the inning, still with no outs, Connor Kaiser hit his second home run of the game and it was a grand slam. The Commodores went up 11-3, seemingly killing the Tigers hopes of a finally getting out of a regional.
Chris Williams led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk. The hottest hitter for Clemson, Kyle Wilkie, made sure he and Williams got home safely, sending a two-run shot into the left field stands drawing the Tigers back within six runs of a tie ball game.
Earlier in the game, Wilkie singled to right-center, extending his hitting streak to 29 straight games.
Wharton was called out on strikes with a full count on what looked to be a pitch below the knees. He left the field irate as Byrd walked up to bat next with one out. He singled to right field on the fifth pitch of his at-bat.
Nothing would come of it as the next two batters were retired. Going into the final three innings, the Commodores would hold an 11-5 lead over the Tigers.
Stephen Scott added to the Vandy lead with a solo shot over the center field wall, making it 12-5.
Connor Kaiser would go on to hit his third home run of the game, plating two more runs and increasing their lead yet again, 14-5. At this point, Kaiser had hit a grand slam, a three run homer and a two run shot, leaving him a solo home run shy of a 'Home Run Cycle.'
In the bottom of the seventh, Seth Beer struck out swinging but received a standing ovation from the crowd as he walked off the field. It was what everybody believed to be his last at-bat as a Clemson Tiger.
Chris Williams would double to left field, driving in Kier Meredith and cutting the lead to 14-6 in favor of the Commodores. Kyle Wilkie would follow him up drawing a two-out walk. A wild pitch to Wharton would move Williams and Wilkie up a base each, putting runners on second and third, but Wharton would strike out in the at-bat and end the threat.
The Commodores got things started off quickly in the top of the eighth inning with back-to-back solo home runs by Infante and Ray, giving them a 16-6 advantage. Connor Kaiser would single with a man on third, driving in his tenth RBI of the game which tied the NCAA tournament record for RBI in a single game; gave Vandy a 17-6 lead going into the bottom half of the inning.
Vanderbilt scored two more runs in the top of the ninth to make it 19-6. The senior, Adam Renwick, would be up to bat first in the bottom half of the inning. He would strike out swinging. Patrick Cromwell, who is also a senior, would come in to pinch hit for Logan Davidson.
Cromwell would line out to the right fielder. Seth Beer would come up for one more at-bat in the game but would pop out to left field.