OMAHA, Neb. – Connor Harrell hit the first College World Series home run in the new TD Ameritrade Park to break a sixth-inning tie and first-time qualifier Vanderbilt defeated North Carolina 7-3 on Saturday.
Harrell’s two-run homer off Patrick Johnson over the left-field bullpen followed Conrad Gregor’s tying double off the top of the wall.
Corey Williams (2-0) worked 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief for Vanderbilt starter Sonny Gray. Johnson (13-2), who had allowed three earned runs in his previous 45 innings, was tagged for four earned – five total – in six innings.
Vanderbilt (53-10), the No. 6 national seed, advanced to a Bracket 1 game Monday night against Florida, which beat Texas 8-4 later Saturday. No. 3-seeded North Carolina (50-15), which left 16 on base, plays Texas Monday afternoon.
The 24,500-seat TD Ameritrade Park opened to much fanfare, but the crowd of 22,745 was well short of a sellout on a warm, humid afternoon. The $131 million ballpark replaces Rosenblatt Stadium, which had hosted the CWS from 1950-2010.