Vanderbilt Makes Brutal College World Series History in Loss to Wright State

Karl Rasmussen | Jun 1, 2025

Vanderbilt pitcher Austin Nye reacts after a solo run home by Wright State's Luke Arnold / Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For the first time in College Baseball World Series history, the tournament's No. 1 overall seed will not be playing for a regional final.

The Vanderbilt Commodores entered the 64-team field as the top seed, and were widely projected to contend for a national title. They came out flat during the regionals, suffering a 3–2 defeat to No. 2 Louisville on Saturday before again coming up short against No. 4 Wright State on Sunday, 5–4.

Raiders starting pitcher Griffen Paige lasted 8 1/3 innings against the Commodores offense, surrendering just one run through the first eight frames before things got a little bit shaky. Vanderbilt was able to tack on three runs to narrow make it a one-run game in the ninth inning before Wright State's bullpen was able to shut the door and secure the win.

Zero. CORRECTION ONE #1 overall seed has failed to make a regional final#RaiderGang | #BuildTheMonster pic.twitter.com/Nlx5QsI1sh

— Wright State Baseball (@WSURaidergang) June 1, 2025

2025 was the first time Vanderbilt had entered the College Baseball World Series as the No. 1 seed since 2007. They last won a national title in 2019.

It's an incredibly disappointing exit for the Commodores after they won the SEC tournament and finished the regular season with a 42–16 record. As for Wright State, it marks their third appearance in a regional final, and the program's first since 2016.

---

More on Sports Illustrated

feed