Exhibiting that commanding form that helped him climb or near the top of the Draft boards everywhere this season, Jack Leiter it was brilliant again for Vanderbilt at the College World Series Monday night
The No. 3 prospect in the MLB Pipeline Draft struck out 15 in eight innings, breaking the record for most strikeouts by a Vanderbilt player in the College World Series established by teammate Kumar Rocker with 11 in 2019 against Michigan.
However, the right-hander was defeated by a single error: a solo homer by Terrell Tatum’s bat in the fifth inning that proved to be the difference in the game as NC State held on for a 1-0 victory. It was the first time all season the Commodores were shut out.
Leiter gave up just four hits and one walk; the only hit that went for extra bases was Tatum’s dinger. The right-hander pitched a complete game and finished with 123 pitches, 82 strikes.
The 21-year-old was perfect in four innings, striking out nine while striking out all three in the second and fourth. In the fifth, Leiter jumped ahead of Tatum 0-1 before the designated hitter connected on the next pitch and hit it against the wall in right field.
The blast didn’t seem to shake Leiter at all, though, as the 6-foot-1, 205-pound pitcher retired the next six batters he faced. In the seventh, Leiter found the bases loaded and one out after giving up a pair of singles and a six-pitch walk to Tatum. But he escaped the inning unscathed after striking out back-to-back.
Leiter, the son of former MLB Al Leiter, returned to the hill in the eighth on 109 pitches. After an opening hit from Vojtech Mensik, the right-hander left the third baseman stranded at the start as he navigated the rest of the frame on 12 pitches, registering his 15th strikeout on the road.
It may interest you: Prospect Jack Leiter remains intractable, his numbers are from another world.
The Commodores’ usually potent offense was kept quiet by first-year starter Sam Highfill, who allowed a pair of singles and a pair of walks while fanning seven in 7 1/3 frames for NC State. Evan Justice closed out the win after working around a walk and striking out a pair in 1 2/3 no-hitter innings.
.