CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Jeren Kendall drove in three runs and Carson Fulmer pitched six nearly flawless innings as defending national champions Vanderbilt steamrolled Illinois 13-0 in the opening game of their best-of-three super regional Saturday night.
Fulmer (13-2) allowed four hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out five and walking five.
Left-hander Kevin Duchene (11-2) took the loss for the Illini (50-9).
Duchene struck out the first batter before giving up three singles, a walk and a hit batsman, giving Vanderbilt (46-19) a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Duchene struggled the remainder of the game and was replaced by Cody Sedlock in the fifth.
It is the third straight super regional appearance for the Commodores -- including last year's national championship season. The winner of the series earns a trip to the College World Series.
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