NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt scored four runs in the late innings Friday to beat Wright State 4-3 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Nashville Regional.
Riley Nelson hit the go-ahead, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to cap Vandy’s comeback.
Starting pitcher JD Thompson kept the Dores in the game, striking out 12 batters over 8.0 innings of work. Thompson held the Raiders to three runs on five hits.
Wright State worked a leadoff walk in the top of the first and got on the board with an RBI double.
The Raiders doubled their lead in the top of the second with a solo homer to go in front 2-0. A second solo shot in the top of the fourth extended Wright State’s lead to three.
Brodie Johnston broke up Wright State’s no-hit bid with a solo blast over the wall in left to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
Vandy’s three-run eighth inning started with a solo blast off the bat of Mike Mancini. After RJ Austin legged out a fielder’s choice, Nelson brought the sold-out crowd to its feet with a mammoth shot down the line in right.
Sawyer Hawks relieved Thompson to start the ninth and struck out the side to earn his eighth save on the season.
Vanderbilt will meet Louisville at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Hawkins Field. Wright State and ETSU will play an elimination game at 2 p.m.
