2015 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team

Last updated

2015 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball
Vanderbilt Commodores logo.svg
SEC East Division Champions
Nashville Regional Champions
Champaign Super Regional Champions
College World Series Final, L 1–2 vs. Virginia
Conference Southeastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
CB No. 2
Record51–21 (20–10 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home stadium Hawkins Field
Seasons
←  2014
2016  →
2015 Southeastern Conference baseball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Eastern
No. 2 Vanderbilt  x‍‍‍y20–10 .66751–21 .708
No. 3 Florida  ‍‍‡‍y19–11 .63352–18 .743
Missouri  ‍‍‍15–15 .50030–28 .517
Kentucky  ‍‍‍14–15 .48330–25 .545
South Carolina  ‍‍‍13–17 .43332–25 .561
Tennessee  ‍‍‍11–18 .37924–26 .480
Georgia  ‍‍‍10–19 .34526–28 .481
Western
No. 5 LSU  x‍†‍‍y21–8 .72454–12 .818
No. 11 Texas A&M  ‍‍‍y18–10 .64350–14 .781
No. 7 Arkansas  ‍‍‍y17–12 .58640–25 .615
Ole Miss  ‍‍‍y15–14 .51730–28 .517
Auburn  ‍‍‍y13–17 .43336–26 .581
Alabama  ‍‍‍12–18 .40032–28 .533
Mississippi State  ‍‍‍8–22 .26724–30 .444
x – Division champion
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The 2015 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Commodores played their home games at Hawkins Field as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by head coach Tim Corbin, in his 13th season at Vanderbilt.

Contents

Previous season

In 2014, the Commodores finished the season 3rd in the SEC's Eastern Division with a record of 47–19, 17–13 in conference play. They qualified for the 2014 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament and were eliminated in the second round. They qualified for the 2014 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, and were selected to host the Nashville Regional, which included Oregon, Clemson, and Xavier. The Commodores won their first three games of the regional, defeating Xavier by a score of 11–0, Oregon by a score of 7–2, and Oregon again, this time, 3–2, to advance to the Super Regional, of which they were hosts. In their first game against Stanford, the Commodores won 11–6, before dropping the second game, 4–5. In game three, Vanderbilt won, 12–5, to advance to the College World Series.

In the College World Series, Vanderbilt defeated Louisville and UC Irvine to advance to the semifinals and play Texas. In the first match-up with the Longhorns, the Commodores dropped their first game of the College World Series, losing 0–4. In the second game, the Commodores won 4–3 in ten innings, advancing to the College World Series finals to play Virginia.

Vanderbilt opened the finals against Virginia, the #3 national seed in the tournament, with a 9–8 victory. The Commodores proceeded to drop the second game, 2–7, before winning game three, 3–2. Vanderbilt were crowned national champions, their first championship in program history.

2015 regular season

After a slow start, the Commodores easily qualified for the 2015 Southeastern Conference tournament, where they finished second to the Florida Gators. They then played host to the 2015 NCAA Nashville Regional, where they defeated Lipscomb University, The University of Indiana and Radford University, the last opponent by a record-tying shutout score of 21–0. The Commodores then faced the University of Illinois in the NCAA Superegional, defeating them in a two-game sweep and advancing to the College World Series.

In 65 games in his junior year for the team, Rhett Wiseman hit .318/.419/.566 with 66 runs (2nd in the Southeastern Conference), 39 walks (tied for 6th), and 14 home runs (tied for 6th). [1] [2] He was named an All-American. [3]

2015 NCAA College World Series

In their opening-round game in the 2015 College World Series, Vanderbilt defeated Cal State Fullerton, 4–3, on a walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth in a game that had been suspended due to rain the night before, advancing into the winners' bracket. In their second-round game, Vanderbilt defeated the number 7 national seed TCU, 1–0. Zander Wiel hit a home run in the 7th inning to score the lone run of the game and break up a no-hitter.

Behind an offensive outburst and dominating performance behind the arm of Walker Buehler, the Commodores beat TCU 7–1 to advance to their second straight College World Series Championship Series. Commodores outfielder Rhett Wiseman was hit in his neck by an 89 mph fastball while batting during the game, and was hit so hard it left a red mark that even showed the outlines of the baseball's laces on his neck. He stayed in the game (telling their coach "it's the College World Series, baby. You're not taking me out of this game"). Wiseman went on to hit a home run innings later. [4] [5]

In game 1 of the championship series Vanderbilt defeated Virginia 5–1 thanks to an outing by Carson Fulmer. Virginia held Vanderbilt scoreless (3–0) for just the second time all year, forcing a winner-take-all third game for the national championship. The Cavaliers beat Vanderbilt 4–2 to win their first baseball national championship in program history.

Personnel

Roster

2015 Vanderbilt Commodores roster [6]
 

Pitchers

  • 13 – Walker Buehler – Junior
  • 15 – Carson Fulmer – Junior
  • 21 – John Kilichowski – Sophomore
  • 22 – Philip Pfeifer – Redshirt.svg Junior
  • 23 – Joey Abraham – Freshman
  • 24 – Jordan Sheffield – Redshirt.svg Freshman
  • 28 – Matt Ruppenthal – Freshman
  • 31 – Ryan Johnson – Redshirt.svg Freshman
  • 32 – Hayden Stone – Sophomore
  • 34 – Brendan Spagnuolo – Freshman
  • 35 – Ben Bowden – Sophomore
  • 40 – Collin Snider – Freshman
  • 44 – Kyle Wright – Freshman
  • 45 – Tyler Ferguson – Junior
 

Catchers

  • 5 – Jason Delay – Sophomore
  • 25 – Karl Ellison – Sophomore
  • 33 – Tristan Chari – Freshman

Infielders

  • 2 – Tyler Campbell – Junior
  • 7 – Dansby Swanson – Junior
  • 10 – Will Toffey – Freshman
  • 11 – Liam Sabino – Freshman
  • 16 – Penn Murfee – Redshirt.svg Freshman
  • 19 – Joey Mundy – Freshman
  • 36 – Aubrey McCarty – Redshirt.svg Freshman
  • 43 – Zander Wiel – Redshirt.svg Junior
  • 55 – Tyler Green – Redshirt.svg Freshman
 

Outfielders

  • 1 – Ro Coleman – Sophomore
  • 3 – Jeren Kendall – Freshman
  • 6 – Drake Parker – Redshirt.svg Freshman
  • 8 – Rhett Wiseman – Junior
  • 18 – Nolan Rogers – Sophomore
  • 20 – Bryan Reynolds – Sophomore
  • 39 – Kyle Smith – Junior
 

Coaching staff

NamePositionSeasons at
Vanderbilt		Alma mater
Tim Corbin Head coach13 Ohio Wesleyan University (1984)
Scott BrownAssistant coach3 SUNY Cortland (1999)
Travis Jewett Assistant coach3 Washington State University (1993)

Schedule

Legend
 Vanderbilt win
 Vanderbilt loss
 Postponement
BoldVanderbilt team member
2015 Vanderbilt Commodores Game Log
Regular season
February
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
February 13 Santa Clara #1 Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN 4–0 Fulmer (1–0)Steffens (0–1)2,9581–0
February 14Santa Clara#1Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–7Karalus (1–0)Stone (0–1)2,7541–1
February 14Santa Clara#1Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–5 (10)Sheffield (1–0)Karalus (1–1)2,7542–1
February 18at Belmont #2 E. S. Rose Park • Nashville, TNPostponedRescheduled for April 28
February 20vs. Indiana State #2 Charlotte Sports Park • Port Charlotte, FL 3–2Bowden (1–0)Keaffaber (0–1)NA3–1
February 21vs. Indiana State#2Charlotte Sports Park • Port Charlotte, FL1–8Degano (2–0)Stone (0–2)NA3–2
February 22vs. Indiana State#2Charlotte Sports Park • Port Charlotte, FL6–0Wright (1–0)Kuhlman (0–2)NA4–2
February 24 Tennessee–Martin #4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN16–3Shaw (1–2)Shaw (0–1)2,3655–2
February 25 WKU #4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN10–6Pfeifer (1–0)Pearson (0–2)2,4056–2
February 27 Illinois State #4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN16–1Fulmer (2–0)Headean (1–1)2,4097–2
February 28Illinois State#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN3–2Kilichowski (1–0)Hendren (1–1)2,5028–2
March
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
March 1Illinois State#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN16–10Bowden (2–0)Heilenbach (0–1)2,7589–2
March 3 Evansville #4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–8 (12)Sheffield (2–0)Gould (0–1)2,37610–2
March 6at #7 UCLA #4 Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CA 6–0Fulmer (3–0)Kaprielian (3–1)2,20411–2
March 7at #20 USC #4 Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CA5–6Huberman (3–1)Bowden (2–1)1,40111–3
March 8vs. #1 TCU #4 Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA2–4Morrison (3–0)Pfeifer (1–1)Ferrell (5)NA11–4
March 10 Quinnipiac #7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–2Sheffield (3–0)Luciani (0–1)2,44412–4
March 11Quinnipiac#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN8–0Johnson (1–0)Thomas (1–2)2,45013–4
March 14 Arkansas #7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN8–7 (12)Bowden (3–1)Stone (0–2)3,04014–41–0
March 14Arkansas#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–1Buehler (1–0)Taccolini (0–2)Kilichowski (1)3,04015–42–0
March 15Arkansas#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN1–0Pfeifer (2–1)Alberius (1–2)3,15016–43–0
March 17 Tennessee Tech #5Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–1Johnson (2–0)Gardner (0–1)2,81317–4
March 20at #30 Auburn #5 Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL 4–6Thompson (4–2)Fulmer (3–1)Lipscomb (1)2,86917–53–1
March 21at #30 Auburn#5Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL10–5Buehler (2–0)Wingenter (1–2)Pfeifer (3)18–54–1
March 21at #30 Auburn#5Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL7–6 (10)Bowden (4–1)Yarbrough (0–1)2,84019–55–1
March 24at Middle Tennessee #3 Reese Smith Jr. Field • Murfreesboro, TN 12–7Wright (2–0)Alton (3–1)2,62020–5
March 27 Tennessee #3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–0Fulmer (4–1)Marks (2–3)3,40921–56–1
March 28Tennessee#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN5–9Serrano (2–3)Pfeifer (2–2)3,62621–66–2
March 29Tennessee#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN14–3Johnson (3–0)Martin (1–1)3,62622–67–2
March 31 Wofford #3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–0Wright (3–0)Lance (2–1)2,76223–6
April
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
April 1Wofford#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN5–3Kilichowski (2–0)Accetta (1–2)Bowden (1)2,94224–6
April 3at Georgia #3 Foley Field • Athens, GA 9–7Fulmer (5–1)McLaughlin (3–2)Pfeifer (4)2,55125–68–2
April 4at Georgia#3Foley Field • Athens, GA11–7Buehler (3–0)Lawlor (3–4)3,16226–69–2
April 5at Georgia#3Foley Field • Athens, GA4–2Wright (4–0)Tucker (0–1)Pfeifer (5)2,15727–610–2
April 7 Lipscomb #2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN1–3Puckett (2–1)Kilichowski (2–1)Andros3,06027–7
April 9 Ole Miss #2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–0Fulmer (6–1)Trent3,11128–711–2
April 10Ole Miss#2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN5–6 (16)WeathersbyWright (4–1)3,54028–811–3
April 11Ole Miss#2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN4–5StokesFerguson (0–1)Waguespack3,62628–911–4
April 14Belmont#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN2–3McGrath (4–2)Sheffield (3–1)Kinney2,88628–10
April 16at South Carolina #7 Carolina Stadium • Columbia, SC 12–0Fulmer (7–1)Fiori (3–1)6,90529–1012–4
April 17at South Carolina#7Carolina Stadium • Columbia, SC2–5WynkoopBuehler (3–1)7,34029–1112–5
April 18at South Carolina#7Carolina Stadium • Columbia, SC2–3MinceyKilichowski (2–2)Widener (9)8,24229–1212–6
April 21Middle Tennessee#14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN4–0Johnson (4–0)Ring (4–2)2,98730–12
April 24#15 Missouri #14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–2Fulmer (8–1)McClain (5–5)3,34831–1213–6
April 25#15 Missouri#14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN12–2Pfeifer (3–2)Houck (6–3)3,42432–1214–6
April 26#15 Missouri#14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN12–2Bowden (5–1)Tribby (0–3)3,49633–1215–6
April 28at Belmont #9 E. S. Rose Park • Nashville, TN1–4McGrathKilichowski (2–3)Kinney (5)91833–13
May
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
May 1at Kentucky #9 Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY 13–3Fulmer (9–1)Brown (4–5)2,65534–1316–6
May 2at Kentucky#9Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY5–11Beggs (7–2)Pfeifer (3–3)2,51234–1416–7
May 3at Kentucky#9Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY7–3Sheffield (4–1)Strecker (2–1)Bowden (2)3,04335–1417–7
May 7#14 Florida #11Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN2–0Fulmer (10–1)Shore (6–5)3,62636–1418–7
May 8#14 Florida#11Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN3–7Puk (7–3)Pfeifer (3–4)3,62636–1518–8
May 9#14 Florida#11Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN7–9Lewis (4–1)Sheffield (4–2)3,62636–1618–9
May 12at #3 Louisville #10 Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KY 5–2Johnson (5–0)McClure (1–1)Kilichowski (2)5,04237–16
May 14at Alabama #10 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL 2–1Fulmer (11–1)Guilbeau (2–6)2,90638–1619–9
May 15at Alabama#10Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL7–5Sheffield (5–2)Walter (4–4)Wright (1)3,51539–1620–9
May 16at Alabama#10Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL0–1Carter (4–5)Buehler (3–2)Burrow (6)3,68439–1720–10
Post-season
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSECT Record
May 20Missouri#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL7–6 (10)Wright (5–1)Williams (4–4)5,20540–171–0
May 21#8 Texas A&M #7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL6–1Kent (7–1)Fulmer (11–2)8,36140–181–1
May 22Alabama#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL16–1 (7)Pfeifer (4–4)Carter (4–6)10,32941–182–1
May 23#8 Texas A&M#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL12–3Kilichowski (3–3)Vinson 4–210,94942–183–1
May 24#9 Florida#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL7–3Young (2–0)Johnson (5–1)7,99842–193–2
DateOpponentSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordNCAAT Record
May 29(4) Lipscomb Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN 11–0Fulmer (12–2)Martinez (7–4)3,62643–191–0
May 30(3) Indiana Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–4Bowden (6–1)Harrison (4–2)Wright (2)3,62644–192–0
June 1(2) Radford Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN21–0Buehler (4–2)MacKeith (7–5)3,62645–193–0
DateOpponentSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordNCAAT Record
June 6(6) Illinois Illinois Field • Champaign, IL 13–0Fulmer (13–2)Duchene 11–23,60546–194–0
June 8(6) IllinoisIllinois Field • Champaign, IL4–2Pfeifer (5–4)Jay (5–2)Wright (3)3,76747–195–0
DateOpponentSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordCWS Record
June 14/15 Cal State Fullerton TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 4–3Wright 6–1Peitzmeier (5–4)21,67448–191–0
June 16(7) TCUTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE1–0Pfeifer (6–4)Young (9–3)Wright (4)24,15649–192–0
June 19(7) TCUTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE7–1Buehler (5–2)Alexander (6–3)26,01150–193–0
June 22 Virginia TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 5–1Fulmer (14–2)Jones (7–3)21,65251–194–0
June 23Virginia TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 0–3Sborz (7–2)Pfeifer (6–5)24,64551–204–1
June 24Virginia TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 2–4Waddell (5–5)Kilichowski (3–4)Kirby (1)17,68951–214–2
All rankings from Collegiate Baseball.

Record vs. conference opponents

Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.

2015 SEC baseball records

Source: 2015 SEC baseball game results

TeamW–LALAARKAUBFLAUGAKENLSUMSUMIZZMISSSCARTENNTAMUVANTeamDivSRSW
ALA 12–180–33–01–22–1.0–32–11–21–2..1–21–2ALAW63–71–2
ARK 17–123–02–1.2–12–11–22–1.2–1.1–12–10–3ARKW37–21–1
AUB 13–170–31–21–23–0.1–22–1.2–12–1.0–31–2AUBW54–61–2
FLA 19–112–1.2–12–11–2.3–01–21–23–02–1.2–1FLAE27–32–0
UGA 10–191–21–20–31–22–10–2.0–3.2–13–0.0–3UGAE73–71–3
KEN 14–15.1–2.2–11–22–12–12–1.0–33–00–21–2KENE45–51–1
LSU 21–83–02–12–1.2–01–22–13–02–12–1.2–1.LSUW19–12–0
MSU 8–221–21–21–20–3.1–21–2.0–32–10–31–2.MSUW71–90–3
MIZZ 15–152–1..2–13–01–20–3.2–12–12–11–20–3MIZZE36–41–2
MISS 15–142–11–21–22–1..1–23–01–2.1–21–12–1MISSW44–51–0
SCAR 13–17..1–20–31–23–01–21–21–2.1–22–12–1SCARE53–71–1
TENN 11–18.1–1.1–20–30–3.3–01–22–12–10–31–2TENNE63–61–3
TAMU 18–102–11–23–0..2–01–22–12–11–11–23–0.TAMUW26–32–0
VAN 20–102–13–02–11–23–02–1..3–01–21–22–1.VANE17–33–0
TeamW–LALAARKAUBFLAUGAKENLSUMSUMIZZMISSSCARTENNTAMUVANTeamDivSRSW

Updated for entire regular season.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314151617Final
Coaches' 11*14553324968109999
Baseball America 111154211586677555
Collegiate Baseball^124475332714911107875
NCBWA†13556421159791110977

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

Awards and honors

Carson Fulmer
Walker Buehler
Dansby Swanson
Zander Wiel
Rhett Wiseman
Bryan Reynolds
Ro Coleman
Jeren Kendall
Will Toffey
Kyle Wright

Commodores in the MLB draft

RoundSelectionPlayerPositionTeam
11 Dansby Swanson SS Arizona Diamondbacks
18 Carson Fulmer RHP Chicago White Sox
124 Walker Buehler RHP Los Angeles Dodgers
3101Phillip PfeiferLHP Los Angeles Dodgers
3103Rhett WisemanOF Washington Nationals
6168Tyler FergusonRHP Texas Rangers
12350Zander Wiel1B Minnesota Twins
19558Xavier Turner3B Texas Rangers
391,163John KilichowskiLHP Chicago Cubs

References

  1. ↑ "MLB Draft Results 2015: Washington Nationals draft Rhett Wiseman at no.103 in 3rd Round", Federal Baseball
  2. ↑ Christian D'Andrea, "Rhett Wiseman Drafted By Washington Nationals in Third Round, 103rd Overall", Anchor of Gold, June 9, 2015
  3. ↑ Andrew Flax, Projecting the Nationals’ Draft , The Nats Blog, June 7, 2016
  4. ↑ Avery Stone, "Vanderbilt baseball player takes pitch to neck, goes on to hit home run",, USA Today, June 20, 2015
  5. ↑ Mike Axisa, "Vandy's Rhett Wiseman takes pitch to neck, stays in, homers", CBS Sports, June 20, 2015
  6. ↑ "Official Baseball Roster". Vanderbilt Commodores. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ "NCAA Div. I Pre-Season All-Americans". Collegiate Baseball Newspaper . Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Preseason College All-Americans". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 "2015 College Preview: All-America Teams". Baseball America. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
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