THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,628 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,628 MLB PLAYERS | 16,400 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 6/26/2019

Vanderbilt finishes 2019 on top

Nick Herfordt
Photo: (Vanderbilt Athletics)

See also: Rocker, Vandy even CWS Finals | Michigan takes CWS Finals lead

OMAHA, Neb. – With their incredible Cinderella-esque run to the finals as one of the final four teams to make the tournament, the Michigan Wolverines appeared to be on the path to reclaiming their first college baseball national championship since 1962. With their underdog status they certainly were the adopted local favorite and they had repeatedly overcome adversity to be one of the final two teams remaining.



Nevertheless, the Vanderbilt baseball team couldn’t have cared less if taking home their second title in six years stood in the way of a good story. In a winner-take-all matchup it was a traditional southern-based powerhouse Vanderbilt against an over achieving northern-based Michigan team for the national title. The team that entered the College World Series as the favorite to win it all did just that, as the Commodores came out on top, 8-2, to claim their second championship in six years.

In the opening inning second baseman Ako Thomas – who had regained the leadoff spot following an unfortunate injury to Jordan Nwogu the night before – continued his torrid hitting in Omaha by lacing a single to left field. Center fielder Jesse Franklin promptly followed with a base knock of his own to instantly put runners on the corners and the Commodores’ defense on its heels. Next to the plate was Jordan Brewer, the remarkable Big Ten Player of the Year, who rapped an 0-2 offering into left field to give the Wolverines a quick 1-0 lead.

With three straight singles Michigan was already on the scoreboard. Optimism bellowed from the dugout and the roaring maize and blue contingent in the stands. Headed into Wednesday’s contest Michigan had won every game in Omaha in which they had plated a run in the first inning.

The quick strike seemed improbable considering their opponent on the mound. Vanderbilt’s Mason Hickman had entered the game with an unblemished 8-0 record and had held opposition to a diminutive .183 batting average coming into the game. And he responded by striking out the side, retiring the next three batters with nine straight savage strikes.

Hickman’s positional starting equivalent on the Michigan side was Karl Kauffmann, an All-American hurler who had been selected 77th overall by the Rockies in the recent MLB Amateur Draft who had been dominating in the NCAA postseason. Coming into game three he had earned four postseason wins and thrown 30 innings against the ilk of Creighton, UCLA and Texas Tech, only allowing 20 hits with 20 strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA.

Kauffmann easily wrangled the vaunted Vanderbilt lineup in the first inning, but center fielder Pat DeMarco whipped his bat though the strike zone and connected with a gargantuan blast that ended with the ball bouncing into the Commodores’ bullpen in the second. Yet, just as Hickman recovered after giving up an early run, Kauffman recovered and finish the inning with three swinging strikeouts of his own.

After two innings the winner-take-all game was tied 1-1.

Hickman threw another scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts in the top of the third and Kauffmann easily retired his first two batters in the bottom of the inning as well. It appeared both pitchers were in the zone, however, the wheels fell off Kauffmann’s proverbial wagon.

JJ Bleday was able to reach base via four consecutive pitches outside of the strike zone. He moved to second after a single by Ethan Paul and the bases suddenly became loaded after Philip Clarke was able to facilitate another walk. After starting the inning with two outs and no one reaching, Kauffmann and the Wolverines quickly found themselves in a dangerous position.

DeMarco, who had drilled a ball over the fence in his first at-bat, battled Kauffmann to a full count. The seventh pitch was well outside the strike zone and DeMarco earned a bases loaded walk. As he trotted to first Bleday came across the plate to give Vanderbilt the 2-1 lead.

The damage wouldn’t end there. The next batter, Stephen Scott, laced a single up the middle and another pair of runs crossed the plate and pushed the lead to 4-1. With Michigan’s regular Friday starter Jeff Criswell feverishly warming up in the bullpen, Kauffmann enticed Harrison Ray to pop up and end the inning and scoring threat.

After three innings Vanderbilt held the lead, 4-1.

The resilient Michigan team wasn’t ready to give up yet. Following a strikeout to start the inning, Christian Bullock drew a full count walk to reach first. After narrowly escaping a pickoff attempt, he got a tremendous jump from first and was able to advance to third following a Jack Blomgren single. A walk to Riley Bertram filled the bases. Thomas belted an offering to left field but it was easily collected for the third out. Hickman was able to extinguish the smoldering Michigan spark and keep his team three runs in front.

In the fourth inning Vanderbilt’s scoring continued.  Designated hitter Ty Duvall drew a full count walk, the fifth of the game for the atypically ineffective Kauffmann. With the free pass, Kauffmann’s fifth of the night, his night would be over and Criswell was brought in to hopes to keep UM within striking distance.

Criswell was able to calm the threat temporarily with a strikeout, but he suddenly couldn’t find the strike zone and Austin Martin was awarded first base with a walk. Bleday, who had earlier in the game increased his streak of reaching base in consecutive game to 51, rifled an offering into center field. The hit scored Duvall and moved Martin around to third. The Vanderbilt lead was increased to four, 5-1. The next batter, Ehtan Paul, wasn’t able to reach base safety, but he did deposit the ball deep enough into left field to allow Martin to tag up and score and increase the lead once again. Vanderbilt led 6-1.

Meanwhile Hickman performed spectacularly on the mound. Any apprehension that had resonated after allowing hits to the first three batters was long gone. In the fifth inning he struck out two and frustrated Michigan’s cleanup hitter Jimmy Kerr into a weak flyout. It was similar circumstances in the sixth when he once again retired the Wolverines 1-2-3. Hickman would be relieved after the inning. For the night he only allowed four hits and three walks and struck out 10.

“If you want to talk about the game, it certainly starts on the mound with Mason,” Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin stated after the game. “He's created such harmony during the course of the year with how he's pitched the weekday and certainly down the stretch here. He's pitched some very difficult games himself and certainly gave us a great start tonight.”

Criswell had been initially able to keep Vanderbilt from increasing their lead, but the Commodores added to their total in the seventh and eighth with single tallies in each frame. In the seventh inning Harrison Ray drove in DeMarco with a single, and in the eighth a Philip Clarke hit pushed Bleday home.

Michigan did offer a glimmer of a comeback in the eighth after Franklin hit the first pitch he saw into the left-center field gap for a double. He’d score soon after, but it was too little too late as a strikeout ended the inning.

After eight innings the score stood 8-2.

Jake Eder, who had come in relief for Hickman in the sixth, finished the game strong earning a three-inning save. The final out was made when DeMarco lovingly squeezed a fly ball in center field to earn the final out. The ‘Dores had done it again.

DeMarco, whose home run tied the game in the second and whose based loaded walk gave the Commodores the lead, beamed as he described the experience after the game.

“I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I don't think it's sunk in yet for any of us yet, this whole experience,” DeMarco explained, “I was just trying to stay in the moment, and hopefully it'll sink in in a couple years, but right now just feels like any other.”

With their second national title in six years, which also includes a second-place finish in 2015, Vanderbilt has now unequivocally erased any doubt that they are a baseball powerhouse. Tim Corbin Commodore clubs have gone 17-7 overall in Omaha, and despite a senior-laden roster, the team returns a wealth of talent for next season, including the College World Series Most Outstanding Player, Kumar Rocker.



Give us your feedback
College | Recruiting | 9/18/2026

Top DII/DIII/NAIA Incoming Freshmen
Article Image
Top Incoming DII Freshmen Rank Name Pos School HS City ST 1 Isaiah Fernandez C Barry Chaminade Madonna College Prep Fort Lauderdale FL 2 Jaiden Palmer SS Newberry University High School Deland FL 3 Mills Carrillo RHP Saint Leo Wesley Chapel Wesley Chapel FL 4 Reuben Vasquez OF Barry Strawberry Crest Dover FL 5 Andrew Petrock SS West Alabama Pelham Pelham AL 6 Jonathan Duffy OF Bentley Walt Whitman Huntington Station NY 7 Tyson McFarlin SS Texas A&M-Kingsville Elgin Elgin TX 8 Chip Glogorski C Georgia College & State Kings Ridge Christian Cumming GA 9 Tanner Pope 1B Francis Marion Garner Magnet Garner NC 10 Brice Gillis 1B University of North Georgia Wesleyan Johns Creek GA 11 Dillon O'Connor RHP Ferrum College The Miller School of Albemarle Charlottesville VA 12 Cooper Obst C Lander Pine Crest Fort Lauderdale FL 13 Brent Sollars OF Colorado Mesa Sandra Day O'Connor Phoenix AZ 14...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 9/18/2026

Northeast Qualifier Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Another day, another Gavin Greene (‘28 GA) barrel as the @AuburnBaseball commit is now hitting well over .500 on the event #NEQ<ahref="https: pg_scouting?ref_src="twsrc%5Etfw'">@PG_Scouting @PG_Georgia https://t.co/Lf6G8AExjB pic.twitter.com/LFMueYHMxB</ahref="https:> — Perfect Game Mid-Atlantic (@PGMidAtlantic) September 14, 2026 Gavin Greene (2028 Alpharetta, GA) played a major factor in AZ Diamondbacks Scout’s Championship run, finishing his weekend with a .528 AVG and 7 RBI. The 5-foot-11, 175 pound Auburn commit was simply a hit machine regardless of who was on the mound, showcasing the ability to handle velo with ease and repeat the stroke at a high level. Starting from a narrow and upright, slightly open base, Greene does a great job of working directly to the point of impact with consistent hard line drive impact to the pull side of the field. He...
Read More
Juco | Rankings | 9/18/2026

JUCO Impact: Top 100 D1 Transfers

Troy Sutherland
Article Image
With the season upon us, let's take a minute to look at 100 of the biggest impact players who played at the JUCO level last year and have since transferred to a D1 program for the upcoming spring.  RK Name JUCO in 2025 DI in 2026 1 Ryan Bradford Johnson County TCU 2 Carson Bailey McLennan Texas Tech 3 Kameron Yearsley John A. Logan  Oklahoma 4 Holden Pantier Walters State Georgia Tech 5 Caden Davidson Gaston Florida 6 Anthony Quigley Northwest Florida Oklahoma 7 Walt Jones Weatherford Kansas 8 Colin Coonradt Johnson County West Virginia 9 Collin Smith Cochise Kansas 10 Ned Frutchey Sac City Arkansas 11 Hayden Blair Walters State Georgia 12 Parker Ishee Co-Lin Oklahoma 13 Coy Clements Pearl River Florida State 14 Griffin Rardin Shelton State Alabama 15 Jordan Martinez Gulf Coast State Florida State 16 Noah Bentley Weatherford Oklahoma 17 Kole Fenton Walters State North Carolina...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 9/17/2026

PG Softball Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase

Ashley Mears
Article Image
Perfect Game Des Moines Elite Scouting Showcase 2026 Indianola. IA Ashley Mears What started off a perfect weather weekend, unfortunately was cut short due to thunderstorms mid-morning on Sunday. In the 18u Division, the Iowa Gold Prospects and the Midwest Speed National Kotzmacher were undefeated. In the 16U Division, 515 Fastpitch Twogood and Iowa Premier Gold- Brower. The tournament featured a ton of solid hitters and pitchers from across the state and Minnesota. Even with the poor weather on Sunday, there was still plenty to see and write about! 18u Division Lexi Adams (2028 Ankeny, IA), a catcher for Iowa Gold Prospects, had a stellar weekend at the plate. Behind the plate, Adams shows strong command of the game and does an excellent job working the zone, using her framing ability to consistently give her pitchers a chance to earn borderline calls. At the plate, Adams starts from a...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 9/17/2026

South Underclass Qualifier Scout Notes

Geoff Billock
Article Image
Cole Marquardt (2029, Montgomery, Texas) left no doubt this weekend as he came home with Tournament MVP honors for his work with Banditos 2028 Black. Went 7-10 with a double, a home run, a pair of triples, and the walk off single in the championship game. Projectable left-handed swing with plenty of tools to dream on. Bat to ball was on point all weekend and he had plenty of chances to show off an advanced run tool. Plenty to dream on moving forward. Callen Corley (2028, Houston, Texas) put together a stellar two-way performance for Houston Wildcatters Navy 2028. At the plate, he went 5-10 with a double, triple, and home run, driving in seven runs. Sinks into his lower half well and creates strong angles for leverage. Plenty of power upside remaining in that frame, to go along with the twitch already present. On the mound, Corley went four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Midwest Labor Day Classic Scout Notes

Brayden Powell
Article Image
Ryan Jones (2027, Tinley Park, IL) was one of the most productive hitters of the weekend, collecting six hits, including three doubles and a home run, while driving in nine runs. The left-handed hitter consistently got the barrel out front and created hard contact throughout the event. Working from an open setup with high hands, he features a compact swing that allows him to get to the ball quickly. His hand speed stood out and helped him drive the baseball to multiple parts of the field. Jones showed a strong understanding of pitches he could handle and rarely missed opportunities to do damage. The swing remains efficient through the zone and produces carry off the barrel. His combination of consistent contact and extra-base impact made him a key offensive contributor all weekend. Uncommitted  JP Elbert (2027, Dubuque, IA) put together an impressive tournament, finishing with five...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Southeast Qualifier #1 Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Walk. It. Off! ‘27 IF Drew Giles (GA) calls game here as he hammers a ball over the CF wall for a solo HR to win it in the bottom of the 7th. #FLQualifier pic.twitter.com/YrzspVZzUY — Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) September 12, 2026 Drew Giles (2027, Brunswick, Ga.) took home MVP honors from the weekend after hitting .385 including a walkoff home run during pool play. Giles helped lead his Canes team to victory and did so with the bat. The swing is super short and simple and he gets immense jump off the barrel. It’s a level path through the zone but the blend of hit and power showed out all weekend for the MVP.  August Backman (2027, Venice, Fla.) had a solid weekend on both sides of the ball: hitting .333 over three games and also sitting 88-91 mph on the mound. Backman, a Florida commit who is nationally ranked, has a three pitch mix highlighted by a really...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 9/16/2026

Fall World Series Scout Notes

Jason Phillips
Article Image
Joseph Mosley 2028, Hendersonville, Tenn.) showed the upside all weekend for Southeast Rawlings Mad Mavericks. The right-handed hitter starts from a medium stance with in-line feet and a low handset with a low back elbow, utilizes a low leg lift stride. Creates separation in the back shoulder with strength through the hands into a flat bat plane and line drive lift in the swing. Stays balanced throughout the swing and showed the feel to use the whole field. The outfielder has an athletic, strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame with more gap-to-gap type power to be unlocked. Collected four hits, including two triples, to drive in an RBI and came around to score three runs. Exciting player with two-way upside. On the mound the right-handed pitcher went two innings in relief with three strikeouts and spread three hits and three walks for one earned run. The fastball ran up to 87 and paired it with...
Read More
College | Recruiting | 9/14/2026

Class of 2026 Recruiting Rankings

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 9/14/2026

Coastal Fall Battle of the Carolinas Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Deacon Hensley (2028, Zebulon, NC) stands at 6-foot-0, 165 pounds and is a left-handed hitting and throwing right fielder. Lean frame with good athleticism and additional strength likely to come with maturity. Compact swing with quick hands and good feel for the barrel. Relaxed setup with good bat speed through the zone. Good balance in the box with a direct path and solid contact skills. Hensley went 3-for-3, scoring three runs and hitting a double. Great day at the plate. Colt Funderburk (2027, Lancaster, SC) stands at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds with an athletic frame and present strength. Bats and throws left-handed. Physical hitter with a compact swing, good bat speed, and the ability to drive the ball with authority. Good pitch recognition with a disciplined approach. Quiet lower half with a controlled load and good balance. Funderburk went 2-for-4 with one double and two RBI. Cameron...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 9/14/2026

PG Athletes Raise North of $138,000 in August

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME ATHLETES RAISE OVER $138,000 FOR CHARITABLE PARTNERS THROUGHOUT MONTH OF AUGUST   Sanford, Florida (Monday, September 14, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that its August premier events raised a combined $138,422 for children's hospitals and charitable organizations, with 1,112 total supporters contributing across five showcases. Since 2016, Perfect Game athletes have raised over $1.8 million for various charitable causes and organizations. The annual fundraising initiative, which runs in conjunction with several of Perfect Game's marquee events each year, gives players, families and fans the opportunity to support...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.