Soak this moment in, Jeren Kendall. It doesn't happen often.
With Vanderbilt down 3-2 in its first game of the 2015 College World Series, Kendall launched a two-run home run into the Cal State Fullerton bullpen beyond the right-field fence to send the Commodores into a frenzy. It was the first walk-off home run at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
"Yeah, I dream a lot," Kendall, a freshman, said when asked if he dreamed of a moment like this. "I dream a lot about big moments. But obviously just hearing the guys talk about their experiences last year kind of made me a little more comfortable, obviously coming in here as a freshman not knowing what it's like. So, yeah, I felt pretty comfortable today."
Thousands dream of it. Few have done it.
Thanks to some research from Jeff Williams and the NCAA stats team, here are the walk-off home runs in the College World Series.
Jeren Kendall
Vanderbilt 4, Cal State Fullerton 3
June 15, 2015
Kendall's blast ended an opening-round game that had been suspended from the previous day. Vanderbilt entered the inning down 3-1.
Connor Rowe
Texas 4, Arizona State 3
June 20, 2009
This bomb from Rowe helped the Longhorns stave off elimination. They went on to fall to LSU in the championship series.
Chance Wheeless
Texas 4, Baylor 3
June 22, 2005
Augie Garrido thought about pinch-hitting for Wheeless in the ninth, but Wheeless made his case to hit despite his injured shoulder. Texas went on to win the national championship.
Brian Stavisky
Notre Dame 5, Rice 3
June 17, 2002
Making their first College World Series appearance since 1957, the Irish won an elimination game thanks to Stavinsky's two-run walk-off homer. In 19 NCAA tournament games, he hit .386 with seven round-trippers.
Karl Jernigan
Florida State 14, Stanford 11 (13)
June 18, 1999
Jernigan's three-run homer broke a deadlock in extra innings and sent the Seminoles to the CWS championship game, where they fell to Miami (Fla.).
Warren Morris
LSU 9, Miami (Fla.) 8 (won championship)
June 8, 1996
One of the most famous moments in College World Series history, Morrison hit the first pitch of the at-bat into the right-field corner and give the Tigers their third national championship.
Chris Moller
Alabama 7, Oklahoma State 5
May 31, 1996
J.D. Drew
Florida State 3, Oklahoma 2
June 2, 1995
Willy Speakman
Long Beach State 12, Clemson 11
June 3, 1991
Paul Carey
Stanford 6, LSU 5
June 5, 1987 (10)
David Shermet
Arizona 8, Maine 7
May 30, 1986
Greg Ellena
Miami (Fla). 6, Mississippi State 5
June 8, 1985
Stan Baughn
Oklahoma State 8, South Carolina 5 (10)
May 31, 1981
Chuck McLean
South Carolina 3, Baylor 2 (10) (inside-the-park)
June 11, 1977
Tom Paciorek
Houston 3, Boston College 2 (13)
June 15, 1967
Bill Ketchum
Oklahoma State 3, Duke 2
June 9, 1961
