NASHVILLE, Tenn. � The Vanderbilt Commodores can't wait to find out how much home field advantage helps in the super regional of the NCAA tournament.
They lost their first two super regionals on the road, including last year at Florida State when they lost the deciding game 7-6. Hosting this year was a top goal, and the Commodores did just that by sharing the Southeastern Conference regular season title.
First baseman Aaron Westlake calls it a great accomplishment.
But Vanderbilt's top goal is earning its first trip to Omaha for the College World Series, and the journey continues Friday night against Oregon State. The Beavers (41-17) won national titles in 2006 and 2007 and are in their fourth Super Regional in seven years.
"Obviously, Omaha is around the corner, but again, we can't look past Oregon State on Friday," Westlake said.
Oregon State knows well how much playing at home can help. The Beavers will be playing their first Super Regional on the road, but they are 18-3 all-time at home where they have won 11 straight postseason games in Corvallis. They were picked to finish eighth in the Pac-10 Conference, yet keep playing on.
"It's been awesome proving all those people wrong and showing that the Beavers can play," Oregon State first baseman Parker Berberet said. "It doesn't matter where they picked you to be, it's how you play. The best team doesn't win, it's who plays the best and we proved that there."
Rumors swirled Monday that Nashville wouldn't have enough open hotel rooms to allow Vanderbilt to host this regional, even though the Commodores were seeded sixth nationally. Nashville is hosting the CMA Music Fest with the music festival Bonnaroo a short drive away.
Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said that never was a concern after his Commodores wrapped up their regional Sunday with a win over neighbor Belmont.
"It's big for the kids' confidence, and it should be good for Nashville. I know we have a lot going on this weekend with music, but hopefully some people will be able to skip on by here later at night and watch us play," Corbin said.
These teams are pretty similar in being able to play small ball with a focus on moving players around the bases, bunting when needed. Pitching is a strength as well.
Oregon State has a team ERA of 2.93 with the bullpen at 2.65 going into this series.
Vanderbilt counters with an SEC-record 12 players taken earlier this week in the Major League Baseball draft led by pitcher Sonny Gray, the 18th pick overall by Oakland. He's likely to start Friday night with Grayson Garvin, drafted by Tampa Bay, throwing Saturday night.
Taylor Hill would go Sunday if needed, and he struck out a career-high 13 to clinch the regional. Washington drafted him in the sixth round.
"He doesn't get the credit he really deserves," catcher Curt Casali said of Hill. "Everyone looks at Sonny and Grayson as being the top line pitchers, but geez, you look at the amount of work Taylor has put togehter especially in his four years, he's been stellar. We wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for him."
Georgia coach David Perno watched Oregon State beat his Bulldogs 6-4 to advance last weekend, and he predicts the Beavers will have a lot of trouble against Vanderbilt.
"Oregon State, not to take anything away from them, they have a good ballclub," Perno said. "But Vanderbilt runs a lot of arms against you that are all really, really talented and a lineup that has a lot of balance and can get you out a lot of different ways. Vanderbilt is as good of team as we played."
The Commodores also think they can take advantage of temperatures in the 90s. Westlake is from Redding, Calif., and he said he knows it's definitely not that hot in Oregon right now.
"It could play to our advantage," Westlake said. "But you never know. We went down to Florida State last year we thought we were prepared for the heat. It's a different kind of heat. You never know how prepared you are or how another team's prepared to play against you. ... We're in our home park. We feel comfortable. It's up to them to feel the same way."
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AP Sports Writer Anne Peterson contributed to this report from Corvallis, Ore.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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