Vandy P Jack Armstrong delivers pinch-hit RBI single in 13th for win over Illinois St

Pitcher Armstrong’s pinch hit wins it for Vandy

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Pitcher Jack Armstrong’s pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 13th inning gave Vanderbilt an 8-7 win over Illinois State in the opening game of the Louisville Regional.

Armstrong’s winning hit came in just his third at-bat this season as the Commodores (42-17), who trailed 6-2 early, won the game that lasted 4 hours and 58 minutes.

Illinois State (31-23), in its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1994, took a 3-0 lead in the first. The Redbirds scored three more times in the top of the fourth for a four-run lead.

The Commodores tied it on Aaron Westlake’s two-run homer in the sixth and took the lead two batters later on Joe Loftus’ solo shot.

Matt Mirabal tied it for Illinois State in the seventh with a solo homer.