Vanderbilt baseball is gearing up for an exciting run at the NCAA regionals, heading to Clemson for the third time in the last seven postseasons. The Commodores (38-21) are set to face Coastal Carolina (33-21) in the opening game this Friday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2. The host team, the Tigers (40-13), are the No. 6 national seed and will take on High Point in their opener.
Here are some thrilling highlights and connections to watch out for in this regional:
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Connections Galore: There's a web of connections between these teams. Vanderbilt's head coach, Tim Corbin, was an assistant at Clemson under Jack Leggett and worked alongside current Tigers coach Erik Bakich in 2022 before bringing him to Vanderbilt. Corbin and Bakich also faced off in the 2019 College World Series finals when Bakich coached Michigan.
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Player to Watch: Keep an eye on Vanderbilt's left-handed pitcher Levi Huesman. He transferred from Coastal Carolina after his first season and has a record of 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in 10 appearances this season.
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Coastal Carolina's Strong Metrics: Despite being one of the last four teams to make it into the tournament, Coastal Carolina boasts impressive metrics. They're ranked No. 36 in RPI and No. 19 in KPI. The narrative is even more compelling with Coach Gary Gilmore’s impending retirement, reminiscent of Florida State’s 2019 run to Omaha under similar circumstances.
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Vanderbilt's Return to Health: The Commodores are getting key players back at the right time. Left-handed pitcher Ethan McElvain, with a 3.24 ERA in 11 appearances, is back after a back injury. Infielder Jayden Davis, who suffered orbital fractures, is also returning and already showed his presence by drawing a walk as a pinch-hitter against Tennessee. Additionally, left-hander Carter Holton, leading the team with 96 strikeouts and holding a 5.29 ERA in 14 appearances, is set to be available after missing the SEC tournament.
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Coastal Carolina's Coach Gary Gilmore: Gilmore has a longstanding relationship with Corbin, dating back to Corbin's days at Presbyterian when Gilmore was at USC Aiken. This friendship adds another layer of intrigue to the matchup.
Vanderbilt fans have plenty to be excited about as the Commodores head into regionals with a healthier roster and significant connections to their opponents. It's shaping up to be a thrilling and competitive set of games.
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