Gilbert’s hit key for Mississippi State
Delivers walk-off single to complete four-run outburst
OMAHA, Neb. — Marshall Gilbert turned a mostly forgettable night at the plate into a memorable one.
The No. 9 batter hit a bases-loaded single up the middle, capping a four-run ninth inning that gave Mississippi State a 5-4 walk-off victory over Auburn in the College World Series on Sunday.
Gilbert was 0-for-4 before delivering in the clutch.
“First of all, I was in awe by everybody that was able to get the job done before me,” Gilbert said of the decisive rally. “It was incredible, the fact we could get to that point to where I was coming up to the plate, and all the at-bats prior to that I had kind of been a little off, missed some pitches. I kept getting encouragement from my teammates saying, ‘Keep going, keep going, don’t quit.’
Gilbert ripped a shot past pitcher Tanner Burns and just out of reach of second baseman Ryan Bliss. Dustin Skelton came home from third and the Mississippi State dugout emptied, with players running into right field to mob Gilbert after the Bulldogs’ third walk-off win of the season.
The No. 6 national seed Bulldogs (52-13) threatened time and again before finally breaking through for their sixth straight win in the tournament. Auburn (38-27), making its first CWS appearance since 1997, was within an out of wrapping up the win. But third baseman Edouard Julien’s wild throw to first on Dustin Skelton’s grounder allowed Elijah Macnamee to score the tying run.
“For eight and two-thirds I just thought everybody associated did a nice job,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “Then we had a chance to win the baseball game — I don’t think there’s any doubt about that — and just one play away tonight.”
Before the ninth, it had otherwise been a mostly frustrating night for the Bulldogs, who stranded 11 runners and had bases loaded in the fifth and sixth but came away with only one run.
Vanderbilt 3, Louisville 1 —
Austin Martin hit two home runs, one to lead off the game and the second in the seventh inning to break a tie.
Martine homered twice for the second straight game. Before he hit two against Duke on June 9, he had a total of seven in 115 career games.
Martin raised his average to .411 going 4-for-7 his last two games.
Vandy starter Drake Fellows (131), a sixth-round pick of the Padres this month and the national wins leader, bounced back from a rough outing in an 18-5 loss to Duke in the super regional June 7.
Fellows allowed six singles and a double, walked one and struck out six before the bullpen took over. ALL-SEC closer Tyler Brown worked the ninth for his 15th save.