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Vandy wins pitchers' duel to begin Nashville Super Regional

  • Vanderbilt pitcher Kumar Rocker, center, is congratulated as he walks to the dugout after the third out against East Carolina in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    1/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt pitcher Kumar Rocker, center, is congratulated as he walks to the dugout after the third out against East Carolina in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. (51) reacts to being called out at the plate after trying to score on a fielder's choice against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The play was reviewed and Bradfield was ruled safe. Vanderbilt won 2-0. East Carolina catcher Seth Caddell blocks the plate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    2/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. (51) reacts to being called out at the plate after trying to score on a fielder's choice against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The play was reviewed and Bradfield was ruled safe. Vanderbilt won 2-0. East Carolina catcher Seth Caddell blocks the plate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin protests a call at the plate in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against East Carolina Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The call was reversed and Vanderbilt's run counted. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    3/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin protests a call at the plate in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against East Carolina Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The call was reversed and Vanderbilt's run counted. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • East Carolina's Ben Newton (24) walks to the dugout as Vanderbilt players celebrate after Newton lined out to end their NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    4/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    East Carolina's Ben Newton (24) walks to the dugout as Vanderbilt players celebrate after Newton lined out to end their NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Vanderbilt players celebrate after beating East Carolina 2-0 in an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    5/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt players celebrate after beating East Carolina 2-0 in an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin (4) hugs East Carolina head coach Cliff Godwin before an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    6/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin (4) hugs East Carolina head coach Cliff Godwin before an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • East Carolina pitcher Gavin Williams (26) waits as umpires, background, review a play at the plate during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against Vanderbilt, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The call was reversed and Vanderbilt's run counted. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    7/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    East Carolina pitcher Gavin Williams (26) waits as umpires, background, review a play at the plate during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against Vanderbilt, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The call was reversed and Vanderbilt's run counted. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Vanderbilt players celebrate after a call at the plate was reversed and Vanderbilt was awarded a run during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against East Carolina, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    8/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt players celebrate after a call at the plate was reversed and Vanderbilt was awarded a run during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against East Carolina, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. runs out an infield single against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Bradfield scored later in the inning. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    9/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. runs out an infield single against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Bradfield scored later in the inning. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. hits an infield single against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Bradfield scored later in the inning. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    10/10

    NCAA East Carolina Vanderbilt Baseball

    Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. hits an infield single against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Bradfield scored later in the inning. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vanderbilt pitcher Kumar Rocker, center, is congratulated as he walks to the dugout after the third out against East Carolina in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. (51) reacts to being called out at the plate after trying to score on a fielder's choice against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The play was reviewed and Bradfield was ruled safe. Vanderbilt won 2-0. East Carolina catcher Seth Caddell blocks the plate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin protests a call at the plate in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against East Carolina Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The call was reversed and Vanderbilt's run counted. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
East Carolina's Ben Newton (24) walks to the dugout as Vanderbilt players celebrate after Newton lined out to end their NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt players celebrate after beating East Carolina 2-0 in an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin (4) hugs East Carolina head coach Cliff Godwin before an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
East Carolina pitcher Gavin Williams (26) waits as umpires, background, review a play at the plate during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against Vanderbilt, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The call was reversed and Vanderbilt's run counted. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt players celebrate after a call at the plate was reversed and Vanderbilt was awarded a run during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game against East Carolina, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. runs out an infield single against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Bradfield scored later in the inning. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt's Enrique Bradfield Jr. hits an infield single against East Carolina in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball super regional game Friday, June 11, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Bradfield scored later in the inning. Vanderbilt won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Associated Press
Updated ·1-min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kumar Rocker struck out 11 in 7 2/3 innings, while allowing just three hits, and Vanderbilt held off East Carolina 2-0 on Friday to begin a best-of-three series in the Nashville Super Regional.

Vanderbilt (44-15), the No. 4 overall seed, can secure its fifth trip to the College World Series – all coming since 2011 — with a win over East Carolina (44-16) on Saturday. ECU needs two straight wins to advance to its first trip in program history.

Rocker (13-3) and ECU starter Gavin Williams combined for 24 strikeouts.

Rocker threw 117 pitches, the last leading to Connor Norby's two-out single. Nick Maldonado got the final out of the inning and Luke Murphy picked up his eighth save.

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Williams (10-1) lost for the first time this season despite tying a career high with 13 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

Vanderbilt freshman Enrique Bradfield Jr., the nation's leader in stolen bases, caused problems for ECU in the eighth. Bradfield led off the inning with an infield single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a sacrifice bunt. Bradfield was called out at home on a fielder's choice, but was ruled safe after an official review to make it 2-0.

East Carolina was shutout for just the second time this season.

____

More NCAA baseball tournament coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/college-world-series