Vanderbilt Coach Tim Corbin and Players Discuss Latest Comeback Victory
Vanderbilt capped off another thrilling comeback, defeating Wright State 4-3 in the final game of the NCAA Regional’s first round in Nashville. Here’s what Coach Tim Corbin, pitcher JD Thompson, and first baseman Riley Nelson had to say following the victory.
Tim Corbin’s Opening Remarks:
“It was a great college baseball game, with solid pitching performances from both sides—especially Hawks at the end. That kid was really determined out there. He kept his composure, made great pitches, and I thought that was one of his best performances. On our side, JD pitched exceptionally well. He made several outs on his own, and while they ambushed a couple of pitches, he managed to bounce back and kept the game within reach. JD did a fantastic job keeping us in the game and getting us to the ninth inning, which is crucial in these types of tournaments.
In the later innings, we got some big hits—Brody smashed a breaking ball, Manny hit a hard ball, and although some of our hits were caught at the fence, they were solid. Then Riley’s clutch hit and Sawyer’s strong finish helped seal the win. The game felt heavy, especially early on when we were a little tight, but these guys fought through it. We’ve been in situations like this before, and it’s always tough, but a win’s a win, and we move on.”
Riley Nelson on His Game-Winning Home Run:
“I saw the ball leave the bat, but no one was signaling a home run, so I looked at the home plate umpire. I was unsure, but then I saw the first base umpire throw his hands up, and I knew it was gone. I thought it was fair all the way.
I expected him to throw a lot of off-speed stuff, not many fastballs, so when he spun one in the right direction, I felt confident I could drive it.
In those moments, it’s all about trusting my teammates. Even when we were down by three, I knew we were going to come back. I trust everyone in our dugout. When we got into their bullpen, we felt a shift. We loosened up, and that made a big difference. It’s always tough early in the tournament, especially against a team like Wright State, who’s on a roll after winning their conference.”
J.D. Thompson on His Performance:
“I was working mostly with just my fastball and curveball. My slider wasn’t as sharp as usual, and they ambushed a few of them. I had to make do with what I had. Sometimes, you don’t have everything working, but I just stuck with what I had. I knew my fastball was still effective.
I’ve learned not to panic, especially with such a strong defense behind me. I don’t feel the need to do it all myself. I just trust my guys and focus on making quality pitches, and that’s what kept me going tonight.
I’ve learned to settle in after early trouble. It’s just about execution. If you leave pitches over the plate, good hitters will make you pay. But once I started to execute better, I found my rhythm.”
Riley Nelson on the Home Run’s Emotional Impact:
“It was a big moment, so I let the emotion out. I usually try to stay calm, but once I hit second base and saw the crowd, I couldn’t help myself. The energy in that moment was incredible.”
J.D. Thompson on Facing a Good Offense:
“They’re a good team, and when you leave balls over the plate, they’ll hit them hard. They took advantage of a few mistakes, but I just focused on executing better, staying ahead in the count, and making the right pitches. That’s what helped me settle in.”
Riley Nelson on the Team’s Resilience:
“We’ve been in these situations before, whether against Alabama or Kentucky. We trust each other, and we know we can come back from any deficit. When you’ve been through it before, you have that belief that you can get the job done.”
Tim Corbin on the Team’s Mentality:
“These games are intense, and you never know how guys are going to react until you’re in the moment. But our team has been in these situations before. They trust each other and trust what they’re capable of. It’s not always about trying to force a big play. Sometimes, it’s just about getting through tough moments, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Corbin on JD’s Performance After Early Struggles:
“JD’s ability to settle in after giving up a couple of early runs speaks to his mental toughness. He doesn’t panic. He’s just steady and focused, and that’s what we need on the mound. He never changes. He competes in his way and keeps things in perspective.”
J.D. Thompson on the Ball Carrying Early in the Game:
“I noticed right away that the ball was traveling well. But I didn’t change anything in how I pitched. I just made sure not to leave anything over the plate. I didn’t try to overdo it, and I stuck with my fastball and curveball. As long as I executed, I knew I had a good chance.”
Tim Corbin on Brody’s Big Hits:
“Brody’s got a short memory. He doesn’t let a bad at-bat affect the next one. His confidence allows him to step up in big moments like that. He just believes in himself, and that confidence shows on both sides of the ball, defensively and offensively.”
Corbin on Pitching and Staff Setup:
“It was crucial to stretch JD out in the first game like that. Sawyer did a great job coming in and closing it down. We’re in a good spot pitching-wise moving forward.”
Coach Corbin on Keeping the Momentum:
“Sometimes, it’s just about making something happen. Someone needs to spark the team, and it can come from a big play, a clutch hit, or a great pitch. Once that happens, the energy shifts. Even when it’s tight, we believe we can catch up, and tonight, we did.”
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