Tim Corbin gives candid take on Riley Nelson home run: 'I didn't think it was a decision'

Vanderbilt skipper Tim Corbin celebrated as a late big swing from Riley Nelson led the Commodores to a win over Wright State. However, it wasn’t as simple as a game-winning home run, plainly clearing the fence.

Nelson hit a towering 429-foot shot down the right field line, which hugged the foul pole. At first, the umpires ruled it a foul ball, and he immediately asked for a review. However, they later changed it to a home run, which would have given Vanderbilt the lead.

Wright State then challenged the overturned call. The umpires upheld it as a home run, meaning Vanderbilt went out in front 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth. It proved to be the difference in Friday’s game, as the win sent the Commodores into the winners’ bracket.

Evidently, Corbin didn’t believe the call was as controversial as many around the college baseball world did. He saw it as a home run all the way, and he was vindicated by the crew’s decision.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t think it was a decision,” Corbin candidly stated, via his postgame press conference. “I just thought he hit it so hard and so high that it had cleared the pole, and then after it went past the pole, it went the other direction. But I didn’t — I actually didn’t think it was a decision. Then, when the umpires got together, they all saw it in the manner that I did. I thought it was plenty fair.”

All told, the home run might be what Vanderbilt needed to get itself out of a funk on offense. Wright State pitcher Cam Allen threw six no-hit innings to start the matchup, needing 76 pitches to go so.

However, Raiders coach Alex Sogard pulled him ahead of the seventh inning, and the ESPN+ announcers questioned that decision, as the Commodores started to wake up. Warren Hartzell came in to relieve him, and his third pitch went over the fence as Vanderbilt got not only its first hit, but its first run on a Brodie Johnston solo home run.

The Commodores then got another run on a solo shot from Mike Mancini to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the eighth inning. Nelson then came to the plate with RJ Austin on first base, and his moonshot to right field put Vanderbilt out in front for good.

Looking ahead, Tim Corbin and the Commodores improved to 43-16 on the year with the win, and will now get ready to play in Saturday’s nightcap. Louisville in the winners’ bracket will be their opponent.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.