OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Pavin Smith homered and drove in three runs and Brandon Waddell turned in another strong College World Series pitching performance, leading Virginia over Vanderbilt 4-2 on Wednesday night for the school's first baseball national championship.
The Cavaliers (44-24) prevailed in the CWS finals rematch against the defending champion Commodores and brought the Atlantic Coast Conference its first title in baseball since Wake Forest in 1955.
Waddell (5-5) went seven innings and allowed only two hits after Vanderbilt (51-21) scored twice in the first. He retired the last 11 batters he faced. It was Waddell's fifth career CWS start, and Virginia won each of them.