NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It was a year ago Tuesday that the Vandy Boys walked off as champions at the SEC Tournament in Hoover on Phillip Clarke’s last at-bat base hit. That victory jumpstarted a postseason run to the national championship.
This Curtain Call honors Mason Hickman, one of the team’s most reliable players during that run and throughout his career at Vanderbilt. In fact, head coach Tim Corbin describes Hickman as one of the most dependable pitchers in program history.
He was a freshman All-American in 2018, leading the Commodores with eight wins on the mound. He didn’t look back from there, finishing his career 19-2.
Hickman was at his best during the 2019 postseason. In four starts in the NCAA Tournament he posted a 1.57 ERA. He beat Louisville to send Vandy to the College World Series Finals, and then struck out 10 over six strong innings to get the win over Michigan to clinch the title.
And he picked up where he had left off this season. Hickman began 2020 2-0 with a miniscule .48 ERA. Perhaps most impressive, he had 26 strikeouts in just 18 innings when the season was canceled.
It's off to pro ball now, but Hickman will leave as one of Vandy's winningest arms. And a national championship ring.
