Vandy bid falls short of CWS

Posted: Monday, June 14, 2010 5:04 pm
By: By BRENT KALLESTAD, Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Walkon Sherman Johnson’s eighth inning bases-loaded double provided the winning margin Sunday as Florida State defeated Vanderbilt 7-6 to advance to the College World series for the 20th time.
The Seminoles (47-18) were up 4-3 when Johnson slammed a 2-2 pitch into the right center-field gap to clear the bases. Vanderbilt chose to walk Tyler Holt and have right-hander Chase Reid pitch to the left-handed hitting Johnson, who had driven in one of Florida State’s second inning runs and had six RBI in the three Super Regional games.
Vanderbilt (46-20) scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth before Florida State’s Mike McGee struck out Joe Loftus to end the Commodores’ bid for their first CWS appearance.
Vandy had forced the deciding third game with a 6-2 victory on Saturday. The Seminoles edged the Commodores 9-8 on Friday in Game 1.
On Sunday, Sean Gilmartin (9-7) got the win and McGee survived the rocky ninth for his 12th save.
Jack Armstrong (7-4) took the loss.
For the second time in the three-game series, Florida State jumped to an early lead.
The Seminoles, who led 6-0 after two innings in Friday’s opener, went up 4-0 Sunday as Vanderbilt starter Jack Armstrong was gone after just 27 pitches, giving up four runs while getting just four outs.
Stephen Cardullo homered to start the four-run second inning while Tyler Holt greeted reliever Drew Hayes, a McKenzie product drafted by the Cincinnati Reds last week, with a two-run double.
The Seminoles threatened again in the third, but Vandy escaped undamaged when Hayes fanned Rafael Lopez and Cardullo was thrown out trying to steal third base on the play.
McGee struck out Curt Casali with the bases loaded to end the seventh after Vanderbilt had scored twice  to pull within 4-3.
McGee replaced Gil-martin after Aaron Westlake doubled in a run following an RBI single by Anthony Gomez. McGee, who fanned five in two and 1⁄3 innings hit Jason Esposito before he got Casali on a checked swing.
The Commodores scored their first run on Jason Esposito’s RBI single in the fourth when they chased Florida State starter Geoff Parker, but reliever Sean Gilmartin struck out Mike Yastrzemski on a checked swing and got Andrew Giobbi on a ground ball stranding three Vandy baserunners.

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