Troy falls to Vanderbilt

5:30 p.m. - I got here about an hour and a half ago, long enough to see Belmont hold on for dear life and eliminate Oklahoma State, 3-2.

Belmont took a shutout to the ninth, but walked in 2 runs. With 1 out and the bases loaded, a double play ended the game. It was the first Division I postseason win by Belmont.

Tonight's loser of Troy and Vanderbilt plays Belmont tomorrow at 2 p.m. in an elimination game. Tonight's winner is sitting pretty in the championship game and would have to be beaten twice, starting tomorrow night at 7. An if-necessary championship would be at 6 p.m. Monday.

Troy is the home team tonight. I'll be back with more updates.

6:37 p.m. - Troy's lineup goes like this - Workman/Hannah/Bryant/Rivera/Shear/McRae/Pierce/Martz/Peterson, with Jimmy Hodgskin pitching.

END 1 - Hodgskin got Vandy 1-2-3. Workman led off with a single, was forced out at 2nd. Trojans could have had something, but Hannah tried to steal 2nd and was thrown out. Bryant then flew out. 0-0.

END 2 - Troy turned a nice 4-6-3 DP in the top of the 2nd, but went down in order in the bottom. Still 0-0.

END 3 - Vandy got a run in the top of the third on a bases loaded sac fly. Line shot right to Hannah got out of it. Hodgskin walked 2, and the first one (leadoff walk) scored. Tough lineup the freshman's got to face. Troy got a 2-out bunt single from Peterson, but a strikeout ended the threat. VU 1, Troy 0.

END 4 - Troy got a clutch 2-out, 2-run RBI single from Todd McRae, Trojans lead 2-1. Hannah and Bryant singled to lead off, Rivera bunted them over, Shear struck out looking, but McRae, as dependable as they come on and off the field, did his job.

END 5 - VU took the lead with 3 in the top of the 4th. A HBP and BB led to Nate Hill coming in. Bunted the over. Kemp, VU's little speedster, hit a grounder up the middle that Rivera knocked down, but he threw wildly home and 2 scored, and Kemp took third. A sac fly scored Kemp to make it 4-2. Troy got a 2-out walk, but didn't score. VU 4, Troy 2.

END 6 - Nothing for VU except a 2-out single in the top. Troy led off with E1 (should have been scored infield hit) and another single by Rivera. Shear called out on a pitch that was called a ball the pitch before, then McRae hits into a taylor-made 4-6-3 DP. VU 4-2

END 7 - Not much for VU in top. Troy had a 2-out rally. Peterson singled and stole second. Workman reached on an E5. VU went to Will Clinard in the pen to face Hannah. Hannah grounded out to the pitcher. VU 4, Troy 2.

MID 8 - VU got 2 with 2 outs in the top of the 8th. Yaz got a ball that landed just inside the line, looked like Workman took a bad angle and it ended up being a triple. After an intentional walk, Gregor singled in 2 runs. VU 6, Troy 2

END 8 - Troy went 1-2-3. Still 6-2 VU.

MID 9 - VU torched Nick Ward after he walked a couple. Westlake with a 3-run homer. Casali with a solo shot. Austin came in after that. 10-2 VU

FINAL Troy loses 10-2, plays Belmont at 2 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game. Winner plays Vandy at 7 p.m. later Sunday, has to beat the Dores twice. That if-necessary game would be Monday at 6.