Virginia Defeats Vanderbilt to Win the College World Series

A 15-15 record in ACC play.

0-3 in pool play in the ACC Tournament.

National Champions.

Virginia completed its incredible post season run Wednesday night, defeating Vanderbilt 4-2 to win the Men's College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, NE.

UVA (44-24) spotted the defending champions a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Bryan Reynolds drew a leadoff walk off Cavaliers' starter Brandon Waddell.and went to third on a double by Rhett Wiseman.  Dansby Swanson's grounder plated Reynolds and Zander Wiel's hit drove in Wiseman to get the Commodores (51-21) started.

But that would be all Vandy would get off of Waddell (5-5), who pitched five innings Saturday against Florida.  The lefty gave up two more hits through the fourth inning, but allowed nothing through the middle innings before leaving after seven innings.

Virginia tied the score against Vanderbilt starter Walker Buehler in the fourth inning when Kenny Towns walked and Pavin Smith hit his seventh homer of the season to even things up.,

The Cavaliers took the lead for good the following inning off reliever John Kilichowski (3-4) when Adam Haseley drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored when Smith greeted Ben Bowden with an RBI single.  UVA added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by Towns.

After the seventh, Virginia turned things over to Nathan Kirby, who missed several weeks because of injury.  Making his first relief appearance of the year, the left hander struck out the side in the eighth, including Swanson and Wiel and closed things out in the ninth, giving up just a two out single and setting off a wild celebration.

The win is the first national title in baseball for the Atlantic Coast Conference since Wake Forest won it all in 1955.