NASHVILLE — Luke Hoskins and Justin Loer combined to throw a four-hitter, Jared Cushing scored the go-ahead run when Matthew DePrey was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning, and Xavier beat host Vanderbilt 2-1 Sunday in an elimination game at the Nashville Regional.
Xavier improved to 39-24 and advanced to play Oregon later Sunday but would need to beat the Ducks twice to advance to next weekend’s super regional phase of the NCAA baseball tournament. Oregon was a win away from advancing.
Vanderbilt, the No. 6 overall seed in the 64-team field, finished the season 42-20 just a week after winning the Southeastern Conference tournament. Vanderbilt beat Eastern Illinois 12-2 on Friday in the NCAA opener for both teams, but the Commodores lost 8-7 to Oregon on Saturday, leaving them vulnerable at home.
DePrey, who came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded, was hit by the first pitch he faced to bring home Jared Cushing and give the Musketeers their first lead of the game at 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh.
Hoskins (7-2) allowed a run on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings. Justin Loer gave up a hit with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief as he earned his seventh save of the season.
Jonathan Vastine led off the third with a double and then scored on single by Davis Diaz to give Vanderbilt a 1-0 lead.
DePrey was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning, Andrew Walker followed with a single, and DePrey — who moved to third on a fly out by Tyler DeMartino — scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt McCormick to make it 1-all.
Vanderbilt starter Sam Hliboki went 5 1/3 innings, allowing a run on four hits and twice hit DePrey with a pitch.
The game was delay for nearly four hours in the top of the ninth due to lightning in the area.