# 2015 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team

The 2015 Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Commodores played their home games at Hawkins Field as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by head coach Tim Corbin, in his 13th season at Vanderbilt.

## Previous season

In 2014, the Commodores finished the season 3rd in the SEC's Eastern Division with a record of 47–19, 17–13 in conference play. They qualified for the 2014 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament and were eliminated in the second round. They qualified for the 2014 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, and were selected to host the Nashville Regional, which included Oregon, Clemson, and Xavier. The Commodores won their first three games of the regional, defeating Xavier by a score of 11–0, Oregon by a score of 7–2, and Oregon again, this time, 3–2, to advance to the Super Regional, of which they were hosts. In their first game against Stanford, the Commodores won 11–6, before dropping the second game, 4–5. In game three, Vanderbilt won, 12–5, to advance to the College World Series.
In the College World Series, Vanderbilt defeated Louisville and UC Irvine to advance to the semifinals and play Texas. In the first match-up with the Longhorns, the Commodores dropped their first game of the College World Series, losing 0–4. In the second game, the Commodores won 4–3 in ten innings, advancing to the College World Series finals to play Virginia.
Vanderbilt opened the finals against Virginia, the #3 national seed in the tournament, with a 9–8 victory. The Commodores proceeded to drop the second game, 2–7, before winning game three, 3–2. Vanderbilt were crowned national champions, their first championship in program history.

## 2015 regular season

After a slow start, the Commodores easily qualified for the 2015 Southeastern Conference tournament, where they finished second to the Florida Gators. They then played host to the 2015 NCAA Nashville Regional, where they defeated Lipscomb University, The University of Indiana and Radford University, the last opponent by a record-tying shutout score of 21–0. The Commodores then faced the University of Illinois in the NCAA Superegional, defeating them in a two-game sweep and advancing to the College World Series.
In 65 games in his junior year for the team, Rhett Wiseman hit .318/.419/.566 with 66 runs (2nd in the Southeastern Conference), 39 walks (tied for 6th), and 14 home runs (tied for 6th). He was named an All-American.

## 2015 NCAA College World Series

In their opening-round game in the 2015 College World Series, Vanderbilt defeated Cal State Fullerton, 4–3, on a walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth in a game that had been suspended due to rain the night before, advancing into the winners' bracket. In their second-round game, Vanderbilt defeated the number 7 national seed TCU, 1–0. Zander Wiel hit a home run in the 7th inning to score the lone run of the game and break up a no-hitter.
Behind an offensive outburst and dominating performance behind the arm of Walker Buehler, the Commodores beat TCU 7–1 to advance to their second straight College World Series Championship Series. Commodores outfielder Rhett Wiseman was hit in his neck by an 89 mph fastball while batting during the game, and was hit so hard it left a red mark that even showed the outlines of the baseball's laces on his neck. He stayed in the game (telling their coach "it's the College World Series, baby. You're not taking me out of this game"). Wiseman went on to hit a home run innings later.
In game 1 of the championship series Vanderbilt defeated Virginia 5–1 thanks to an outing by Carson Fulmer. Virginia held Vanderbilt scoreless (3–0) for just the second time all year, forcing a winner-take-all third game for the national championship. The Cavaliers beat Vanderbilt 4–2 to win their first baseball national championship in program history.

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Seasons at Vanderbilt | Alma mater |
| Tim Corbin | Head coach | 13 | Ohio Wesleyan University (1984) |
| Scott Brown | Assistant coach | 3 | SUNY Cortland (1999) |
| Travis Jewett | Assistant coach | 3 | Washington State University (1993) |

## Schedule

Legend :
| | Vanderbilt win |
| | Vanderbilt loss |
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Vanderbilt team member |
2015 Vanderbilt Commodores Game Log :
Regular season :
February
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
February 13Santa Clara#1Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN4–0Fulmer (1–0)Steffens (0–1)2,9581–0
February 14Santa Clara#1Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–7Karalus (1–0)Stone (0–1)2,7541–1
February 14Santa Clara#1Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–5 (10)Sheffield (1–0)Karalus (1–1)2,7542–1
February 18at Belmont#2E. S. Rose Park • Nashville, TNPostponed Rescheduled for April 28
February 20vs. Indiana State#2Charlotte Sports Park • Port Charlotte, FL3–2Bowden (1–0)Keaffaber (0–1)NA3–1
February 21vs. Indiana State#2Charlotte Sports Park • Port Charlotte, FL1–8Degano (2–0)Stone (0–2)NA3–2
February 22vs. Indiana State#2Charlotte Sports Park • Port Charlotte, FL6–0Wright (1–0)Kuhlman (0–2)NA4–2
February 24Tennessee–Martin#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN16–3Shaw (1–2)Shaw (0–1)2,3655–2
February 25WKU#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN10–6Pfeifer (1–0)Pearson (0–2)2,4056–2
February 27Illinois State#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN16–1Fulmer (2–0)Headean (1–1)2,4097–2
February 28Illinois State#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN3–2Kilichowski (1–0)Hendren (1–1)2,5028–2 :
March
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
March 1Illinois State#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN16–10Bowden (2–0)Heilenbach (0–1)2,7589–2
March 3Evansville#4Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–8 (12)Sheffield (2–0)Gould (0–1)2,37610–2
March 6at #7 UCLA#4Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CA6–0Fulmer (3–0)Kaprielian (3–1)2,20411–2
March 7at #20 USC#4Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CA5–6Huberman (3–1)Bowden (2–1)1,40111–3
March 8vs. #1 TCU#4Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA2–4Morrison (3–0)Pfeifer (1–1)Ferrell (5)NA11–4
March 10Quinnipiac#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–2Sheffield (3–0)Luciani (0–1)2,44412–4
March 11Quinnipiac#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN8–0Johnson (1–0)Thomas (1–2)2,45013–4
March 14Arkansas#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN8–7 (12)Bowden (3–1)Stone (0–2)3,04014–41–0
March 14Arkansas#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–1Buehler (1–0)Taccolini (0–2)Kilichowski (1)3,04015–42–0
March 15Arkansas#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN1–0Pfeifer (2–1)Alberius (1–2)3,15016–43–0
March 17Tennessee Tech#5Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–1Johnson (2–0)Gardner (0–1)2,81317–4
March 20at #30 Auburn#5Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL4–6Thompson (4–2)Fulmer (3–1)Lipscomb (1)2,86917–53–1
March 21at #30 Auburn#5Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL10–5Buehler (2–0)Wingenter (1–2)Pfeifer (3)18–54–1
March 21at #30 Auburn#5Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL7–6 (10)Bowden (4–1)Yarbrough (0–1)2,84019–55–1
March 24at Middle Tennessee#3Reese Smith Jr. Field • Murfreesboro, TN12–7Wright (2–0)Alton (3–1)2,62020–5
March 27Tennessee#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–0Fulmer (4–1)Marks (2–3)3,40921–56–1
March 28Tennessee#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN5–9Serrano (2–3)Pfeifer (2–2)3,62621–66–2
March 29Tennessee#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN14–3Johnson (3–0)Martin (1–1)3,62622–67–2
March 31Wofford#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–0Wright (3–0)Lance (2–1)2,76223–6 :
April
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
April 1Wofford#3Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN5–3Kilichowski (2–0)Accetta (1–2)Bowden (1)2,94224–6
April 3at Georgia#3Foley Field • Athens, GA9–7Fulmer (5–1)McLaughlin (3–2)Pfeifer (4)2,55125–68–2
April 4at Georgia#3Foley Field • Athens, GA11–7Buehler (3–0)Lawlor (3–4)3,16226–69–2
April 5at Georgia#3Foley Field • Athens, GA4–2Wright (4–0)Tucker (0–1)Pfeifer (5)2,15727–610–2
April 7Lipscomb#2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN1–3Puckett (2–1)Kilichowski (2–1)Andros3,06027–7
April 9Ole Miss#2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–0Fulmer (6–1)Trent3,11128–711–2
April 10Ole Miss#2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN5–6 (16)WeathersbyWright (4–1)3,54028–811–3
April 11Ole Miss#2Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN4–5StokesFerguson (0–1)Waguespack3,62628–911–4
April 14Belmont#7Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN2–3McGrath (4–2)Sheffield (3–1)Kinney2,88628–10
April 16at South Carolina#7Carolina Stadium • Columbia, SC12–0Fulmer (7–1)Fiori (3–1)6,90529–1012–4
April 17at South Carolina#7Carolina Stadium • Columbia, SC2–5WynkoopBuehler (3–1)7,34029–1112–5
April 18at South Carolina#7Carolina Stadium • Columbia, SC2–3MinceyKilichowski (2–2)Widener (9)8,24229–1212–6
April 21Middle Tennessee#14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN4–0Johnson (4–0)Ring (4–2)2,98730–12
April 24#15 Missouri#14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN9–2Fulmer (8–1)McClain (5–5)3,34831–1213–6
April 25#15 Missouri#14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN12–2Pfeifer (3–2)Houck (6–3)3,42432–1214–6
April 26#15 Missouri#14Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN12–2Bowden (5–1)Tribby (0–3)3,49633–1215–6
April 28at Belmont#9E. S. Rose Park • Nashville, TN1–4McGrathKilichowski (2–3)Kinney (5)91833–13 :
May
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSEC record
May 1at Kentucky#9Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY13–3Fulmer (9–1)Brown (4–5)2,65534–1316–6
May 2at Kentucky#9Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY5–11Beggs (7–2)Pfeifer (3–3)2,51234–1416–7
May 3at Kentucky#9Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY7–3Sheffield (4–1)Strecker (2–1)Bowden (2)3,04335–1417–7
May 7#14 Florida#11Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN2–0Fulmer (10–1)Shore (6–5)3,62636–1418–7
May 8#14 Florida#11Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN3–7Puk (7–3)Pfeifer (3–4)3,62636–1518–8
May 9#14 Florida#11Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN7–9Lewis (4–1)Sheffield (4–2)3,62636–1618–9
May 12at #3 Louisville#10Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, KY5–2Johnson (5–0)McClure (1–1)Kilichowski (2)5,04237–16
May 14at Alabama#10Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL2–1Fulmer (11–1)Guilbeau (2–6)2,90638–1619–9
May 15at Alabama#10Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL7–5Sheffield (5–2)Walter (4–4)Wright (1)3,51539–1620–9
May 16at Alabama#10Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL0–1Carter (4–5)Buehler (3–2)Burrow (6)3,68439–1720–10 :
Post-season :
SEC Tournament
DateOpponentRankSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSECT Record
May 20Missouri#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL7–6 (10)Wright (5–1)Williams (4–4)5,20540–171–0
May 21#8 Texas A&M#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL6–1Kent (7–1)Fulmer (11–2)8,36140–181–1
May 22Alabama#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL16–1 (7)Pfeifer (4–4)Carter (4–6)10,32941–182–1
May 23#8 Texas A&M#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL12–3Kilichowski (3–3)Vinson 4–210,94942–183–1
May 24#9 Florida#7Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL7–3Young (2–0)Johnson (5–1)7,99842–193–2 :
NCAA tournament: Nashville Regional
DateOpponentSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordNCAAT Record
May 29(4) LipscombHawkins Field • Nashville, TN11–0Fulmer (12–2)Martinez (7–4)3,62643–191–0
May 30(3) IndianaHawkins Field • Nashville, TN6–4Bowden (6–1)Harrison (4–2)Wright (2)3,62644–192–0
June 1(2) RadfordHawkins Field • Nashville, TN21–0Buehler (4–2)MacKeith (7–5)3,62645–193–0 :
NCAA tournament: Champaign Super Regional
DateOpponentSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordNCAAT Record
June 6(6) IllinoisIllinois Field • Champaign, IL13–0Fulmer (13–2)Duchene 11–23,60546–194–0
June 8(6) IllinoisIllinois Field • Champaign, IL4–2Pfeifer (5–4)Jay (5–2)Wright (3)3,76747–195–0 :
College World Series
DateOpponentSite/stadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordCWS Record
June 14/15Cal State FullertonTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE4–3Wright 6–1Peitzmeier (5–4)21,67448–191–0
June 16(7) TCUTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE1–0Pfeifer (6–4)Young (9–3)Wright (4)24,15649–192–0
June 19(7) TCUTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE7–1Buehler (5–2)Alexander (6–3)26,01150–193–0
June 22VirginiaTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE5–1Fulmer (14–2)Jones (7–3)21,65251–194–0
June 23VirginiaTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE0–3Sborz (7–2)Pfeifer (6–5)24,64551–204–1
June 24VirginiaTD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE2–4Waddell (5–5)Kilichowski (3–4)Kirby (1)17,68951–214–2 :
All rankings from Collegiate Baseball. :

## Record vs. conference opponents

Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.
2015 SEC baseball recordsvte
Source: 2015 SEC baseball game results :
| Team | W–L | ALA | ARK | AUB | FLA | UGA | KEN | LSU | MSU | MIZZ | MISS | SCAR | TENN | TAMU | VAN | Team | Div | SR | SW |
| ALA | 12–18 | | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | . | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | ALA | W6 | 3–7 | 1–2 |
| ARK | 17–12 | 3–0 | | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | . | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | ARK | W3 | 7–2 | 1–1 |
| AUB | 13–17 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 3–0 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 0–3 | 1–2 | AUB | W5 | 4–6 | 1–2 |
| FLA | 19–11 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | FLA | E2 | 7–3 | 2–0 |
| UGA | 10–19 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 0–2 | . | 0–3 | . | 2–1 | 3–0 | . | 0–3 | UGA | E7 | 3–7 | 1–3 |
| KEN | 14–15 | . | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | KEN | E4 | 5–5 | 1–1 |
| LSU | 21–8 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | . | LSU | W1 | 9–1 | 2–0 |
| MSU | 8–22 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | | . | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | . | MSU | W7 | 1–9 | 0–3 |
| MIZZ | 15–15 | 2–1 | . | . | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | . | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | MIZZ | E3 | 6–4 | 1–2 |
| MISS | 15–14 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | . | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | | . | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | MISS | W4 | 4–5 | 1–0 |
| SCAR | 13–17 | . | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | . | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | SCAR | E5 | 3–7 | 1–1 |
| TENN | 11–18 | . | 1–1 | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | . | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 0–3 | 1–2 | TENN | E6 | 3–6 | 1–3 |
| TAMU | 18–10 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | . | . | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | | . | TAMU | W2 | 6–3 | 2–0 |
| VAN | 20–10 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | . | . | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | | VAN | E1 | 7–3 | 3–0 |
| Team | W–L | ALA | ARK | AUB | FLA | UGA | KEN | LSU | MSU | MIZZ | MISS | SCAR | TENN | TAMU | VAN | Team | Div | SR | SW |
Updated for entire regular season.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final |
| Coaches' | 1 | 1* | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Baseball America | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Collegiate Baseball^ | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | |
| NCBWA† | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | |
^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season. † NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season. * A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

## Awards and honors
### Carson Fulmer

* Louisville Slugger Pre-season First team All-American
* Perfect Game USA Pre-season First team All-American
* Baseball America Pre-season First team All-American
* SEC Pitcher of the Year
* Won SEC Pitching Triple Crown (Wins, ERA, and Strikeouts)
* Collegiate Baseball First team All-American
* First team All-SEC
* SEC All-Defensive Team
* Golden Spikes Finalist
* Nashville NCAA Regional All-Tournament

### Walker Buehler

* Louisville Slugger Pre-season First team All-American
* Perfect Game USA Pre-season First team All-American
* Baseball America Pre-season First team All-American

### Dansby Swanson

* Louisville Slugger Pre-season First team All-American
* Perfect Game USA Pre-season First team All-American
* Baseball America Pre-season first-team All-American
* College Baseball second-team All-American
* Second Team All-SEC
* Golden Spikes finalist
* SEC All-Tournament
* MVP of the Nashville NCAA Regional

### Zander Wiel

* SEC All-Tournament
* Nashville NCAA Regional All-Tournament

### Rhett Wiseman

* Nashville NCAA Regional All-Tournament

### Bryan Reynolds

* Louisville Slugger Pre-season Third team All-American
* Perfect Game USA Pre-season Second team All-American
* SEC All-Tournament
* Nashville NCAA Regional All-Tournament

### Ro Coleman

* Nashville NCAA Regional All-Tournament

### Jeren Kendall

* Freshman All-SEC
* Nashville NCAA Regional All-Tournament

### Will Toffey

* Freshman All-SEC

### Kyle Wright

* Freshman All-SEC

## Commodores in the MLB Draft

| Round | Selection | Player | Position | Team |
| 1 | 1 | Dansby Swanson | SS | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 1 | 8 | Carson Fulmer | RHP | Chicago White Sox |
| 1 | 24 | Walker Buehler | RHP | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 3 | 101 | Phillip Pfeifer | LHP | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 3 | 103 | Rhett Wiseman | OF | Washington Nationals |
| 6 | 168 | Tyler Ferguson | RHP | Texas Rangers |
| 12 | 350 | Zander Wiel | 1B | Minnesota Twins |
| 19 | 558 | Xavier Turner | 3B | Texas Rangers |
| 39 | 1,163 | John Kilichowski | LHP | Chicago Cubs |