Live Blog: No. 1-seed Vanderbilt vs No. 2-seed Louisville at Nashville Regional

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- No. 1-seed Vanderbilt and No. 2-seed Louisville meetup on the second day in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday.

Vanderbilt is looking for revenge against Louisville. On May 13, The Commodores fell to the Cardinals 5-4 in their final midweek game of the regular season.

Since then, a lot has changed. Vanderbilt has ripped off nine consecutive wins with a pitching staff that is seemingly unstoppable, meanwhile Louisville is 2-5 in their last seven games heading into Saturday night’s game.

Vanderbilt is coming off another cardiac comeback as the Commodores avoided disaster Friday night with a 4-3 come from behind victory over Wright State. Vanderbilt scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to move into the winner’s side of the regional bracket.

Louisville is looking to follow up on perhaps its best game since beating Vanderbilt. The Cardinals defeated East Tennessee State 8-3, getting solid performances from both their pitching and hitting.

The winner of tonight’s rematch will go on to the regional final Sunday night and the loser will take on Wright State at 2 p.m. CT for the right to play tonight’s winner in the regional final.

Live Blog

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from the NCAA Tournament Nashville Regional matchup between Vanderbilt and Louisville. The most recent updates will appear at the top.

Bottom of the 9th

With runners on the corners, Rigdon grounds out to end the game. Louisville wins 3-2.

Vastine strikes out for the first out

Barczi is hit by a pitch to start the inning.

Top of the 9th

A fly out keeps the deficit at one. Vanderbilt needs one to tie and two to win as they are three outs away from their losing their first life in this regional round.

Louisville is ruled safe at first on a two-out bunt and the play is upheld after review.

Bottom of the 8th

Holcomb flies out to right for the final out of the inning. This crowd has quickly become anxious and nervous as Vanderbilt is down to three outs. Keeping this at a one run game is pivotal for Vanderbilt to attempt another comeback.

Top of the 8th

RJ Austin catches one at the wall and keeps it a one run game. Vanderbilt needs to show some life on offense right now.

Louisville gets a one-out double. The Cardinals can separate themselves right here with another hit.

Bottom of the 7th

Another 1-2-3 inning for Vanderbilt as the offense has been very stagnant today. Time is running out on Vanderbilt. The Commodores need to keep this as a 1-run game to stay in this.

Top of the 7th

Fennell allows a leadoff single, but he forces a double play to end the inning. Vanderbilt's bats need to get going quick.

Connor Fennell in the game now. Very interesting decision, feels like Vanderbilt almost has to win this game now when thinking about available pitching left the rest of the regional.

Bottom of the 6th

Vanderbilt goes groundout, strikeout, fly out to end the inning as the Commodores fail to bring anybody home. Leaving second and third on base is a huge turning point in this game. Runners left on base is a major storyline in this game.

A single and a double for Johnston and Holcomb to start the inning. Runners on second and third and nobody out for the Dores. Huge moment here.

Top of the 6th

The Commodres get the force out at second and get out of the jam. Vanderbilt still hanging around despite not getting a strong showing from the bats yet.

Huesman walks the bases loaded with two outs.

Leadoff double for Louisville. Bowker gets one last groundout and his day is done as Tim Corbin turns to Levi Huesman.

Bottom of the 5th

Nelson grounds out to first and leaves the runners stranded. Crowd is silenced as the inning ends and the score remains a one run deficit.

RJ Austin singles to third and a Louisville throwing error into the crowd makes this a 3-2 game with Riley Nelson at the plate with runners on third and second. Louisville turns to the bullpen and brings on Justin West. He's got a 7.24 ERA.

Humphrey singles with one out and Mancini gets an infield single off a Louisville throwing error. First baseman's throw hit Humphrey in the back of the head. Two on and one out for the Dores.

Top of the 5th

Bowker finishes the inning, but Louisville did some damage in the inning. Vanderbilt was down 3-1 last night and came back, so this game is far from over. The Commodores have had a knack for coming back lately.

A bad throw from short to first base allows the runner from third to score and it is 3-1 Louisville.

Louisville gets a double immediately after the homer and the runner moved to third with a sacrifice bunt.

Louisville takes a 2-1 lead with a leadoff home run. That was a no-doubter too.

Bottom of the 4th

Three up and three more down for Vanderbilt in the inning. The game is feeling somewhat similar to the earlier matchup between these two. Feels like the first team to have a big inning could be the winner tonight.

Top of the 4th

Bowker forces a popout for the third out. That was big to go from a runner on with nobody out to getting three outs in a matter of a few pitches.

Louisville gets its leadoff man on, but Vanderbilt doubles them off with a strikeout and picking off the runner stealing second on the same play. Big swing right there.

Bottom of the 3rd

Riley Nelson blasts one to deep center, but is caught at the track and the score stays tied. The momentum certainly feels like it has shifted after this inning though.

Oh my goodness Vanderbilt takes advantage of another wild pitch and Mancini scores all the way from second and ties the game at 1-1.

Mancini is walked and steals second with one out. Vanderbilt is going to need to start to bring runners home in a tight game like this.

Top of the 3rd

Bowker mows through three more in the third. This game is starting to feel like it could be a pitching duel tonight with the way both pitchers are throwing.

Bottom of the 2nd

It's a very quick 1-2-3 inning for the Vanderbilt offense. It does not feel like the Commodores are playing as tight tonight, but it does feel like the offense is a little tight to an extent.

Top of the 2nd

Louisville gets a runner to second base, but Bowker sets down two in a row to prevent any damage. It looks that Bowker is getting more comfortable since giving up the home run.

Bottom of the 1st

A strikeout and a groundout ends the inning. Big missed opportunity right there for Vanderbilt that could come back to haunt them.

Rigdon leads off with a single and moves to third on a RJ Austin groundout. Runner on third with one out.

Top of the 1st

Bowker gets a strikeout and a flyout at the wall to end the inning. Through these first two days of the regional, it seems that the pitching is off a little out of the gates.

Louisville is on the board first with a solo shot to left. 1-0 Cardinals.

Pregame

About 35 minutes from first pitch here at The Hawk. Both teams out on the field for warmups and stretching. Louisville wearing their red and white stripe uniforms while Vanderbilt is wearing their all white uniforms again tonight.

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

Rustan Rigdon, 2B
RJ Austin, CF
Riley Nelson, 1B
Brodie Johnston, 3B
Braden Holcomb, LF
Colin Barczi, C
Jonathan Vastine, SS
Jacob Humphrey, RF
Mike Mancini, DH

Louisville Cardinals Starting Lineup

Lucas Moore, CF
Matt Klein, C
Jake Munroe, 3B
Eddie King Jr., RF
Garret Pike, DH
Zion Rose, LF
Tague Davis, 1B
Kamau Neighbors, 2B
Alex Alicea, SS

Starting Pitchers

Vanderbilt: Cody Bowker (3-4) 4.46 ERA, 66.2 IP, 93 K, 28 BB, .220 b/avg.

Louisville: Tucker Biven (3-0) 4.75 ERA, 30.1 IP, 26 SO, 18 BB, .274 b/avg.

Weather Report

It's a great night for baseball with a first pitch temperature of 75 degrees and dipping down into the upper 60s by the end of the night. As the sun sets, there is just a slight breeze of 6 mph. It's looking out to be a clear night, there is no chance of rain tonight.

Nashville Regional Bracket

Updated Nashville Regional Schedule | Graham Baakko