Wright State baseball delivered one of the biggest upsets in recent college baseball history, knocking out No. national seed Vanderbilt with a dramatic 5-4 victory in the Nashville Regional. The Raiders, seeded fourth in the region, jumped to a quick 4-0 lead with back-to-back home runs from Boston Smith and Luke Arnold, and held off a late Vanderbilt rally to secure the win. Griffen Paige pitched eight strong innings, allowing just one hit and two runs, before the bullpen closed out the tense ninth inning.
This loss marks the first time since 1999 that a No. national seed failed to reach its regional final under the current tournament format, ending Vanderbilt’s hopes for another College World Series appearance The Commodores, known for their powerhouse program and recent SEC Tournament title, were eliminated after also falling to Louisville.
Wright State’s Cinderella run, however, ended later that night with a 6-0 loss to Louisville in the regional final. The Raiders managed only two hits against the Cardinals, closing their season with a 40-21 record—their first regional final appearance since 2016 Despite the defeat, Wright State’s upset over Vanderbilt will be remembered as a defining moment in this year’s NCAA baseball tournament.
