The Louisville Cardinals beat the Vanderbilt Commodores 5-3 in a NCAA super regional opener Saturday. Matt Helms, who had three RBI all season singled with the bases loaded in the seventh inning to score 2 runs and Him andbreak a 3-3 tie.
The Cardinals tied the game three batters earlier when Zak Wasserman drove in his second run of the game with a two-out single. Xavier Turner had two hits and scored two runs for the Commodores (54-11). Six of Vanderbilt’s seven hits came in the opening three innings.
Vanderbilt starter Kevin Ziomek allowed just two hits in his first six innings and retired 11 of 12 entering the seventh when he got in trouble.
The two teams play again tomorrow with Louisville one win away from a berth in the College World Series in Omaha. Vanderbilt pitcher Tyler Beede (14-0) will face Louisville’s Jeff Thompson (10-1) on Sunday.