CWS Finals: Virginia shuts out Vanderbilt to extend series

Virginia will push Vanderbilt to the limit for a second consecutive year at the College World Series.

The Cavaliers used a bizarre three-run sixth inning to their advantage, shutting out the Commodores 3-0 in the second game of the series.

Despite a combined 17 hits, the offense was fairly dormant on both ends of the ball. But what happened in the sixth was the turning point of the night.

After Vandy starter Philip Pfeifer recorded two quick outs, Pavin Smith muscled an inside pitch to the opposite field for a single. After that, Kevin Doherty hit a routine grounder up the middle that ricocheted off second base, putting two runners on.

The next batter was Joe McCarthy, who roped a grounder that first baseman Zander Wiel couldn't handle, setting the stage for the floodgates to open.

Two consecutive singles by Ernie Clement and Thomas Woodruff resulted in three runs - which was all the support Virginia needed.

Josh Sborz, who came on in relief of starter Adam Haseley, shut out the Commodores, recording the final nine outs without giving up a run.

Haseley, who also batted leadoff in the game, pitched five scoreless innings of four-hit ball, while walking three and striking out one. Not bad for a guy whose last outing was 4 2/3 innings against NC State on May 23.

His counterpart, Pfeifer, was the hard-luck loser, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up three unearned runs on eight hits and six strikeouts.

Although Game 3 is set, Virginia will hope that this isn't a remake of last year's theatrics. In the 2014 CWS between these two squads, Vanderbilt took the first game and Virginia took the second.

Now, the Cavaliers will hope that history doesn't repeat itself.

Live Blog

All time stamps are in Eastern Time.

Top 9

11:51 p.m. - HOOS DAT! Josh Sborz shuts the door with a 92-mph fastball right by Nolan Rogers and Game 3 is set for Wednesday.

11:47 p.m. - One strike way.

11:46 p.m. - After a long at-bat, Sborz induces the long fly ball to right-center as McCarthy and Woodruff almost collide. Virginia one out away from Game 3.

11:42 p.m. - Every. Pitch. Matters.

11:42 p.m. - Karl Ellison is trying to do something at the plate with two on, and one out.

11:40 p.m. - WHIFF! 94 mph out of the hand of Josh Sborz as he strikes out Jaren Kendall for the first out of the inning. Biggest strikeout of the CWS.

11:38 p.m. - Breathe in, breathe out.

11:37 p.m. - Vanderbilt when trailing after eight innings: 3-15.

11:35 p.m. - Ball four and now Vanderbilt is cooking! Runners on first and second, nobody out, and the tying run is at the plate in the form of freshman Jaren Kendall. Oh man.

11:32 p.m. - For the fourth time tonight, Vanderbilt gets the leadoff man on as Reynolds hits a grounder up the gut for a single. The Commodores have some life here.

11:30 p.m. - Who else? Josh Sborz taking on Reynolds, Toffey, and Kendall.

Bottom 8

11:29 p.m. - What pressure? Virginia doesn't stand a chance as Jordan Sheffield strikes out two in the eighth. We're moving to the ninth where Virginia is three outs away from a third date with Vanderbilt this week.

11:23 p.m. - I got it! No you got it! That's how things have been going tonight for Vanderbilt. Routine grounder up the middle as Swanson and Rogers bump into each other. Clement reaches first with two out.

11:20 p.m. - Woof! Sheffield humming at 96 mph with some extra hot sauce on the side. He'll be sought after when he becomes draft eligible next season. Two out here in the Virginia eighth.

11:18 p.m. - Nervous? No chance! Sheffield needs three pitches to get his first out by way of the punch out.

11:17 p.m. - Bowden's line in his second night of work: 1 1/3 innings, one hit, two strikeouts. Great showing from the lefty.

11:17 p.m. - Jordan Sheffield comes on to pitch the eighth for Vanderbilt, has yet to toe the mound in the CWS. We'll see what he's made of in a tough spot.

Top 8

11:15 p.m. - Groundout and Virginia is cruising. Up 3-0 with a chance to add some more runs as we head to the bottom half of the inning.

11:13 p.m. - The life seems to be sucked out of Vandy. Nothing going their way as Virginia gets all the bounces. One inning has been the difference tonight.

11:11 p.m. - Dansby gets into one but it's just a scare for the Cavs as he lines out to left. Great contact, nothing doing. Two down in the eighth.

11:09 p.m. - Sborz is back out for the eighth and the Cavaliers have the guy they want on the mound to close this out.

Bottom 7

11:05 p.m. - Smith is gone, Bowden strikes him out and we're through seven innings. Vanderbilt has six outs to get at least three runs. Crunch time, baby.

11:02 p.m. - Towns with a base hit to right and Virginia's looking to pad its 3-0 lead. Pavin Smith at the dish with two down.

10:57 p.m. - Nolan Rogers tested out of the gate at second base as Danny Pinero grounds out for the first out of the seventh.

Top 7

10:52 p.m. - Coleman flies out to left field, inning over and Virginia gets a much needed shut down inning from Sborz. Onto the eighth, and it's 3-0 Virginia.

10:50 p.m. - Fastball right by him and Sborz strikes out the pinch-hitter Nolan Rogers. Two on, two out for Vanderbilt and we'll roll over to the top of the order.

10:49 p.m. - Vandy has been in this situation before, and they've hit into inning-ending double plays. A single would be huge.

10:47 p.m. - Over the glove of Towns and Ellison rips a single to left field. Nolan Rogers will pinch-hit off the bench representing the tying run. This is what the CWS is all about. One down in the seventh.

10:44 p.m. - Sborz wins the battle as Kendall hits a moon raker to right field. One down in the seventh with the catcher Karl Ellison at the plate.

10:43 p.m. - Kendall spoils another one and the count is still full. Man oh man.

10:41 p.m. - Full count. What a battle.

10:38 p.m. - The Virginia reliever is struggling to find the strike zone. Good for Vanderbilt. Bad for UVA.

10:37 p.m. - Bad start for Sborz as Will Toffey draws the leadoff walk and Vanderbilt is one step closer to making something happen.

10:35 p.m. - Josh Sborz has a comfortable lead. This is probably a bad time to let the Vandy faithful know the righty has yet to give up an earned run in the College World Series. Virginia faithful, rejoice.

Bottom 6

10:32 p.m. - Bowden comes in and promptly gets the strikeout, and the inning is finally over for Vanderbilt. What an inning for Virginia, and it's 3-0 after six.

10:30 p.m. - Pfeifer's hard-luck line tonight: 5 2/3 innings, eight hits, three runs (none of them earned), six strikeouts.

10:28 p.m. - Vandy skipper Tim Corbin comes to the mound and Philip Pfeifer is done for the day. What a huge rally by Virginia as Ben Bowden will come in for the second consecutive night.

10:25 p.m. (Scoring Play) - Make it three for the Cavaliers! Thomas Woodruff is on fire, 3-for-3 and ropes a two RBI single to center. 3-0 Virginia.

10:23 p.m. (Scoring Play) - Say hey! The freshman Ernie Clement comes through for Virginia, and we have a score. It's 1-0 for Virginia and the Cavaliers are feeling delicious in the sixth. Wowzers.

10:21 p.m. - It's a hot shot to first and Zander Wiel can't handle it! Virginia catches another break and the bases are loaded for the first time tonight with two out. Ernie time!

10:18 p.m. - Outfielders are in another time zone. Mucho respect for Joe McCarthy.

10:17 p.m. - Are those the Baseball Gods at work?! Doherty hits a routine grounder up the middle and the ball hits the back, deflects to the outfield. What a break for UVA. Two on, two out for McCarthy.

10:16 p.m. - That one had eyes! Pavin Smith fights off the inside pitch and gets a base hit to left. Kevin Doherty will try to get that runner into scoring position.

10:14 p.m. - Two quick outs and Pfeifer is still dealing. Two down here in the sixth, and Virginia's got nothing going.

10:13 p.m. - This has to be demoralizing for Vanderbilt. The Dores just can't cash in and Virginia won't go away. One swing of the bat will change this game.

Top 6

10:10 p.m. - Sborz is money! Silky smooth Daniel Pinero picks up the grounder, touches the bag for one and fires it over to first for the inning-ending double play. We're going to the bottom of the sixth with the score still 0-0.

10:05 p.m. - Great hustle from Joe McCarthy as Sborz gets Wiel to fly out to shallow center. Runners can't advance and there's one out here. Big spot for Vandy, bigger out for UVA.

10:03 p.m. - Huge swing and a miss. It's a 1-2 count for Wiel.

10:02 p.m. - Swanson hits a slow-roller deep in the six hole and Pinero has no choice but to go to second but it's not in time. Vandy has men on first and second, heavy-hitting Zander Wiel at the plate with no one out.

10:00 p.m. - Haseley's line: 5 innings, four hits, three walks and, one strikeout. Brilliant.

9:58 p.m. - The skipper comes out and this is the end of the road for Adam Haseley, who walks off to a standing ovation. What a gutsy performance by the lefty. Josh Sborz is coming on and Haseley will stay in the game as the DH.

9:55 p.m. - Haseley hangs a breaking ball and Wiseman stings it to center for base hit. Dansby time.

9:54 p.m. - The question here is, how long does Virginia keep the lefty on the mound? He's starting to leave some pitches up, so far no one's been able to capitalize.

9:52 p.m. - What do you know, Haseley is still working as Sborz hangs out in the bullpen waiting for the call.

9:51 p.m. - The Commodores will send Wiseman, Swanson, and Wiel to the plate to try and get something going here.

Bottom 5

9:49 p.m. - Pinero grounds out to third and we are through five with zeroes flashing on the scoreboard.

9:48 p.m. - Zing! Pfeifer strikes out Haseley for the second time tonight. Make it five punch outs on the night for the Vandy starter.

9:46 p.m. - Woodruff was 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts this season. Now would be a good time to go 6-for-6.

9:46 p.m. - Woodruff does it again! Now 2-for-2 on the night and here come the Cavaliers. One down.

9:45 p.m. - Side note: Adam Haseley has now pitched a career-high five innings. His previous high was 4 2/3 against NC State on May 23.

9:43 p.m. - Virginia will once again look to get on the board; the Cavs have struggled offensively so far in the finals.

Top 5

9:41 p.m. - Here comes the buffet! Haseley jams Coleman as Towns handles the tough hop barehanded to get the force out at second for the final out.

9:38 p.m. - Mound visit: "Watcha wanna do here coach," Haseley asks. "Let's hit up the Coral after this game, because I'm starving." Infield agrees; one out to go.

9:37 p.m. - Ball four and now Vandy is cooking. Leadoff man Ro Coleman, already with a single, is at the plate. This will probably be Haseley's last batter of the night.

9:35 p.m. - Haseley is at 60 pitches and he's been tremendous so far. Let's see if he can get out of this jam.

9:34 p.m. - Kevin Doherty with a circus act in left field to get under a routine fly ball. Nevertheless, two down with a man on second; Tyler Campbell at the dish looking to give his club the lead.

9:32 p.m. - It might be too early to say this again, but just like last night, the first team to score here will have a major upper hand given how both squads are throwing.

9:31 p.m. - Vanderbilt plays some small ball and Kendall lays down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Toffey to second with one out.

9:29 p.m. - Roped! Will Toffey stings a curveball to right-center and the Dores have something going here. Man on first with nobody out.

9:28 p.m. - Haseley is back out, and why not?

Bottom 4

9:25 p.m. - A 73-mph curve and 93-mph heater is what makes Pfeifer so effective. He's finding his groove with a shut-down fourth, retiring seven in a row. Nothing doing for the Cavs and we go to the fifth, still 0-0.

9:24 p.m. - Pfeifer doesn't have Carson Fulmer stuff, but he's keep these Virginia batters off-balance all night. Two down here in the fourth.

Top 4

9:19 p.m. - How does a 1-2-3 for Haseley sound? That's money in the bank for the two-way guy shutting down the meat of the order. He could be done for the day (on the mound).

9:17 p.m. - Same doing for Wiel as he ropes a grounder to third, but Kenny Towns is silky smooth at the hot corner. Two down.

9:16 p.m. - Swanson grounds out to third and depending on how things go, this will likely be Haseley's final inning on the mound. Josh Sborz is warming up in the bullpen.

9:13 p.m. - Haseley is back on the bump to face the heart of the Vandy order: Swanson, Wiel, and Reynolds.

Bottom 3

9:10 p.m. - It's a 1-2-3 inning for Pfeifer as we head to the fourth with a scoreless ballgame. Deja vu much?

9:10 p.m. - There hasn't been too much scoring in this series so far, but man has this game been eventful.

9:06 p.m. - Pinero flies out to center for the quick out. Pfeifer is now up to 43 pitches in the third inning. It looks like the bullpen will get some more work than it did last night.

Top 3

9:03 p.m. - Oh no he didn't! Pinero climbs the ladder and some to rob Wiseman of a hit, doubles off Coleman at first. What a beautiful play and now he'll lead off the Cavaliers' third.

9:00 p.m. - Ro Coleman bloops one to right and now Vandy has a burner on the bases with one down.

8:59 p.m. - Pinero charges the grounder and hoses Tyler Campbell with a hard throw to first base. Tigers are going to love that kid in the system.

Bottom 2

8:54 p.m. - Strike three! What a pitch by Pfeifer as he buckles Haseley with a curveball on a 3-2 count and Vandy escapes unharmed.

8:52 p.m. - Well hey there! The eight and nine hitters come through as Woodruff ropes a base hit to right and Clement scurries on over to third. Haseley will look to help his own cause here.

8:51 p.m. - On a side note, Virginia is stringing together some good at-bats. Pfeifer is up to 33 pitches already.

8:49 p.m. - Last night's defensive star Ernie Clement gets a two-out knock to right and Thomas Woofruff will look to do something Virginia hasn't done well so far - clutch hitting.

8:48 p.m. - That ball is crushed to right field but not enough juice on it and Pfeifer gets away with that one as McCarthy flies out. Where's the wind when you need it?

8:47 p.m. - Pfeifer pulls the string and the bottom half of the second starts off with a strikeout. Joe McCarthy here.

Top 2

8:43 p.m. - Outta here! Haseley erases the threat with a picture perfect pickoff to catch Kendall leaning too far off the bag. Virginia back at the sticks in the bottom half.

8:41 p.m. - Haseley hangs the curveball but Ellison does nothing with it, weak flyout to right. Two down, man on first and it wouldn't be a shock to see Kendall steal here.

8:40 p.m. - Ball four and catcher Karl Ellison will try to do something with Kendall on base. Plenty of great at-bats early on in this game. Now we need some clutch hitting.

8:38 p.m. - Jeren Kendall at the plate after Will Toffey flies out to left. He's got some pop and now would be a good time to show it off.

Bottom 1

8:34 p.m. - Pavin Smith chops the first pitch he sees to the first baseman and somehow, Vanderbilt gets out of the first unscathed. Not a good sign for UVA early.

8:33 p.m. - Pfeifer with another HUGE strikeout. Kenny Towns goes down swinging and once again, Virginia leaves the runners where they are. The Cavaliers are on the cusp of blowing a prime opportunity.

8:30 p.m. - Got em'! Huge strikeout there and Thaiss can't do the job. One down, runners on first and second.

8:28 p.m. - Vandy starter Philip Pfeifer keeps worrying about Haseley at second. He needs to start focusing on the batter a little more.

8:27 p.m. - Now that's a big-league at-bat by Pinero. Works the count full, fouls off a few pitches, draws the walk. Guys on first and second, big boy Matt Thaiss at the plate.

8:26 p.m. - What an at-bat by Pinero. Pfeifer up to 10 pitches.

8:25 p.m. - Balloon on the field. Again, like yesterday, anarchy in Omaha.

8:22 p.m. - Haseley gets some jam sandwich from Pfeifer but he beats it out on a bobble from the first baseman. Virginia with the leadoff man on.

Top 1

8:18 p.m. - Great play by Daniel Pinero deep in the six-hole to get the force out at second; Haseley gets out of the top half unharmed. Kid loves to live on the edge, now he'll bat leadoff.

8:16 p.m. - Bloop single for Ziel and this game is off to a hotter offensive start than last night. Swanson goes to third and we have men on the corners, two down.

8:15 p.m. - Dansby Swanson draws a walk. He's having an all right series after a major slump prior to the CWS. Zander Wiel at the dish.

8:13 p.m. - See ya! First strikeout of the night for Haseley is Rhett Wiseman, who struck out three times last night. Make that four in five plate appearances.

8:11 p.m. - It's no secret Vanderbilt has the upper hand in terms of pitching, but when the Virginia bats get going, it'll change the series. There's no Carson Fulmer on the mound, either, so there's that.

8:09 p.m. - First pitch is ball one and we are underway for Game 2 of the CWS.

8:06 p.m. - This is Virginia starter Adam Haseley's first start on the mound since May 23 against NC State. No pressure, right?

8:01 p.m. - On the third base side, Virginia is ready to end the season on a two-game winning streak.

8:00 p.m. - On the first base side, we have the Vandy boys ready to go.

7:50 p.m. - The stage is set for a replica of last year's CWS. Vandy's up a game and if history repeats itself, Virginia will come out victorious tonight to force a third game. First pitch is around the corner in Omaha. Buckle up, folks.

Virginia Starter: Adam Haseley
Having only pitched 23 2/3 innings in four starts this season, Haseley will be trusted to extend the series one more game while batting leadoff for the Cavaliers.

Vanderbilt Starter: Philip Pfeifer
Vanderbilt will lean on lefty Philip Pfeifer to win its second consecutive CWS. In eight starts and 26 appearances on the season, the lefty owns a 3.77 ERA, holding opponents to a .217 batting average.

Vanderbilt vs. Virginia: 3 things you need to know

Carson Fulmer was too much to handle for the Virginia Cavaliers on Monday night, as the Vanderbilt Commodores took Game 1 of the best-of-3 series with a 5-1 win in Omaha, Neb.

Fulmer struck out eight, giving up two hits and a pair of walks over 7 2/3 innings in his final game as a Commodore to leave Vandy a single win away from their second consecutive College World Series title.

With Game 2 set for 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday night, here are three things you need to know for tonight's action:

Deja vu

As alluded to above, the Commodores are looking to become the first team to repeat as NCAA champions since South Carolina accomplished the feat in 2011. And for the second year in a row, they'll have to beat the Cavaliers to do it.

Vanderbilt also took Game 1 of last year's series before Virginia evened things up at a win apiece with a 7-2 victory in Game 2. The Cavaliers will hope the trend continues so they can keep their World Series hopes alive.

Making the task more difficult for Virginia will be the absence of last year's Game 2 hero, pitcher Brandon Waddell, who is unavailable after appearing in the semifinals against Florida last Saturday. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, has their entire staff available.

If Vanderbilt notches a win Tuesday, they'll become the third team in College World Series history to repeat as champions against the same opponent. USC beat Arizona State in 1972 and 1973 during a run of five straight titles, while Oregon State topped North Carolina in 2006 and 2007.

Fulmer, Swanson chasing history

Two Commodores players have been nominated for 2015's Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation's top amateur player, and if one couples the honor with a series-clinching win tonight, they would join elite company.

The Game 1 hero Fulmer and shortstop Dansby Swanson both have a chance to become the third player of all time, and first since Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona in 1980, to be drafted in the first round and win both the College World Series and Golden Spikes Award in the same year.

Fulmer, selected eighth overall by the Chicago White Sox, has already been named SEC Pitcher of the Year, winning the conference's pitching triple crown with 14 wins, 167 strikeouts, and a 1.83 ERA in 19 starts. The ace has also been named first-team All-American and first team All-SEC for 2015.

Swanson, selected first overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks, leads his team in batting average (.348), hits (86), doubles (22), triples (6), home runs (14), and runs scored (71). He also has a chance to become the first player ever to be named College World Series Most Outstanding Player twice.

With the Golden Spikes Award winner being announced Tuesday on ESPN, it could be a truly historic night for one of these players.

Virginia's Game 2 starter a mystery

While Vanderbilt's Philip Pfeifer (third in the SEC in strikeouts with 112) is set to take the mound for the Commodores, Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor wasn't yet willing to show his cards following Monday's loss.

With Waddell out and Cavaliers ace Connor Jones being outmatched in Game 1, Virginia is expected to start left-handed junior Nathan Kirby, while leaning heavily on reliever Josh Sborz, the Los Angeles Dodgers' second-round pick.

Kirby is 5-3 on the season with a 2.61 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 11 starts. Sborz, meanwhile, has a team-best 1.70 ERA and 15 saves along with 59 strikeouts in 69 innings of work. The closer made three starts this season, including a complete game victory in the ACC tournament over Georgia Tech.

Regardless of who starts Tuesday, the Cavaliers will need to get their bats going in Game 2, with their one-run ninth inning Monday night serving as a glimmer of hope that they might be able to turn things around and save their season.