NCAA Baseball’s Opening Weekend Sees Top Two Seeds Eliminated in Rare Regional Collapse
The NCAA Baseball Tournament’s opening weekend of regional play brought fireworks, upsets, and a pair of historic defeats. In a stunning development that shook the foundations of the college baseball world, both No. 1 national seed Vanderbilt and No. 2 national seed Texas were eliminated from the tournament on Sunday, marking only the second time in NCAA history that the top two national seeds failed to survive the regional round.
The last—and only—other time such a seismic event occurred was back in 2014, when No. 1 Oregon State and No. 2 Florida both fell short in their respective regionals. But few could have foreseen a repeat this year, especially given the pedigree of programs like Vanderbilt and Texas, which have become synonymous with postseason dominance.
Instead, the 2025 NCAA tournament has already carved out its place in history as the year of the underdogs—where Horizon League champion Wright State and surging Conference USA member UTSA emerged as giant killers, sending baseball powerhouses packing before June even truly began.
Wright State Shocks Nashville: Commodores Crash Out on Home Turf
In front of a stunned home crowd in Nashville, Tennessee, top-ranked Vanderbilt fell to the fourth-seeded Wright State Raiders, 5-4, in what will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in regional history.
Vanderbilt entered the tournament not only as the No. 1 national seed but also with the weight of championship expectations. But the Commodores couldn’t shake a determined Wright State squad that played with heart, grit, and fearlessness from the very first pitch.
Wright State’s starting pitcher, Griffen Paige, became the unlikely hero of the day. Despite issuing six walks and allowing just one hit across an exhausting 113-pitch effort, Paige maintained his poise and command when it mattered most. The only blemish came early—a solo shot by Vanderbilt’s Brodie Johnston in the second inning. But Paige never unraveled. Instead, he leaned into the pressure, one pitch at a time.
“Biggest game I’ve ever pitched in,” Paige said postgame. “I went out there with one goal—get guys out, one at a time. That’s all you can do in a moment like this.”
Wright State built an early lead thanks to first-inning back-to-back home runs from Boston Smith and Luke Arnold, both launched off Vanderbilt’s starter Austin Nye. The two-out rally delivered a 4-0 cushion before the Commodores could even blink.
From that point, it became a battle of nerves, with Wright State doing just enough to keep the lead while Vanderbilt tried to mount a comeback. The Commodores made it interesting in the ninth, putting runners aboard and trimming the lead to just one, but their late push fell short. With that, the No. 1 national seed was eliminated before even reaching the regional final—the first time that’s happened since the NCAA adopted the current tournament format in 1999.
The Raiders’ Cinderella story didn’t carry through the night, however. After the emotional win, Wright State fell to Louisville in the regional final, 6-0, ending their journey. But their upset over Vanderbilt was more than enough to secure their place in tournament lore.
Austin Heartbreak: UTSA Topples Texas in Emotional Elimination Game
If Vanderbilt’s defeat shocked the East, Texas’ collapse rocked the heart of the Lone Star State.
Hosting a regional for the 38th time, the Texas Longhorns were expected to glide into the Super Regionals with relative ease. But standing in their way was a red-hot UTSA Roadrunners team that had tasted no prior NCAA tournament success—until now.
UTSA entered the tournament 0-6 in their previous three postseason appearances. This year? A perfect 3-0 in the Austin Regional, including back-to-back victories over the host Longhorns.
On Sunday, it was Norris McClure who set the tone. The slugging outfielder went 3-for-5 with a massive two-run homer in the first inning, silencing the home crowd early. His blast over the right-field wall gave the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead and set the stage for a dominant offensive showing.
An inning later, UTSA exploded for five more runs. Ty Hodge delivered the knockout punch with a sharply hit liner to center field that bounced off the glove of the fielder, clearing the bases and pushing the lead to 6-0. Moments later, Mason Lytle’s clutch two-out single made it 7-0.
And just in case their bats weren’t enough, UTSA’s defense dazzled. In the third inning, James Taussig tracked a deep fly to the warning track in left, made the catch, and unleashed a laser to third base for a double play that cut down a rally before it could begin.
Lytle—named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year—also contributed with a diving catch at the track in center field, robbing Texas of a potential extra-base hit and preserving UTSA’s lead.
On the mound, Gunnar Brown was steady and effective, giving up just one earned run over five innings. Robert Orloski came in to shut the door, striking out four over three innings and earning his ninth save of the season.
For Texas, there were few answers. Starter Hudson Hamilton couldn’t escape the first inning, and the bullpen struggled to contain UTSA’s relentless attack. The Longhorns were officially eliminated, leaving fans and players stunned.
Unprecedented Early Exit for College Baseball’s Blue Bloods
The elimination of both Vanderbilt and Texas before the regional finals represents more than just two early upsets. It symbolizes a seismic shift in college baseball—where depth, hunger, and execution can topple even the most decorated programs.
Vanderbilt, winners of multiple College World Series titles in recent years, and Texas, boasting one of the most storied baseball legacies in NCAA history, were supposed to be fixtures in Omaha, not footnotes in the regional round. But the game is changing.
For Vanderbilt, the pain is compounded by the fact that they were the first No. 1 seed since UCLA in 2015 to be knocked out in regionals. Worse, they didn’t even reach their regional final—a new low under the current format.
Texas’ loss may hurt just as much. After decades of dominance and regional success, falling to an in-state school with zero previous postseason wins is a bitter pill to swallow. But UTSA didn’t sneak past them—they beat Texas twice, clean and convincingly.
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Looking Ahead: What These Wins Mean for the Underdogs
While heartbreak reigns in Nashville and Austin, the victors march forward with momentum, belief, and perhaps a bit of destiny on their side.
UTSA will now compete in its first-ever Super Regional. Once a baseball afterthought, the Roadrunners are proving they belong on the national stage. Led by clutch hitting, stellar defense, and opportunistic pitching, they have become the feel-good story of the tournament.
Wright State may be done, but their shocking upset of Vanderbilt won’t soon be forgotten. Their victory is a reminder that tournament baseball rewards the brave. One strong pitching performance, one timely hit, and one fearless attitude can flip the script.
Final Thoughts: Welcome to the New NCAA Baseball Tournament
The 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament has already delivered more drama in its opening weekend than many anticipated. If these early eliminations are any indication, fans can expect a wild ride on the Road to Omaha.
The fall of Vanderbilt and Texas marks a shift, perhaps not in the power structure of college baseball, but certainly in its possibilities. Teams like UTSA and Wright State have shown that history and seeding mean nothing when the game begins.
And that’s what makes this tournament special. Every pitch, every play, every out counts.
Because in the NCAA regionals, anything can happen—and this year, it already has.
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