Eric Olson | The Associated Press | June 30, 2014 Norwood's HR gives Vanderbilt first CWS title Vanderbilt wins the 2014 Men's Baseball Championship Share OMAHA, Neb. -- For a guy who doesn't hit many home runs, John Norwood's timing was impeccable. Norwood's tie-breaking homer in the top of the eighth inning carried Vanderbilt to a 3-2 win against Virginia on Wednesday night for the Commodores' first national championship. Norwood turned on Nick Howard's 97 mph fastball and sent it into the left field bullpen. Then Hayden Stone and Adam Ravenelle closed out the third and deciding game of the College World Series Finals. 2014 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES FINALS GAME 3 Highlights Breeze: Resillient Vanderbilt pitchers push team to title Breeze: Lineup change pays off as Vanderbilt wins CWS Kroll: Virginia's best leaves it just short of the title Top Performers: CWS Finals Game 3 Vandy's Brian Miller pops the question (she said yes) Photo Essay: Pregame at TD Ameritrade Park GAME 2 Photo Gallery Highlights Breeze: Vanderbilt falls flat in areas that led to Game 1 win Kroll: Waddell carries Virginia to victory in Game 2 Top Performers: CWS Finals Game 2 Game day with the Vanderbilt Commodores GAME 1 Photo Gallery Highlights Breeze: Vanderbilt scores early, but not often Kroll: Cavaliers live to fight another day Top Performers: CWS Finals Game 1 Game day with the Virginia Cavaliers CWS MEDIA DAY Brian O'Connor's tie to Road to Omaha statue All Access: Tim Corbin and Vanderbilt baseball Kroll: CWS finalists look to past to ponder future Breeze: CWS Finals Media Day in photos CWS Highlights | Brackets: Interactive Print It was Norwood's third homer of the year, his first since April 19, and Vanderbilt's first since May 16. It also was only the third home run in 16 CWS games and the 22nd in 72 games by the Commodores (51-21). "I thought it was absolutely gone as soon as I hit it," Norwood said. "I was only thinking about hitting the ball hard. We were totally confident going back to regionals and Super Regionals and really felt we could get this done." The Cavaliers (53-16) loaded the bases with one out in the eighth when Adam Ravenelle hit Kenny Towns. But Mike Papi was forced out at home on a chopper to Ravenelle, and Brandon Downes grounded out. The title, secured when Ravenelle struck out Daniel Pinero, is Vanderbilt's first in a men's sport. The school's only other title came in women's bowling in 2007. Vandy second baseman Dansby Swanson was chosen the CWS Most Outstanding Player. Swanson batted .323 in the CWS, scored five runs, drove in two and stole three bases. He played flawlessly in the field. "When you've got guys backing up each other like we do, anything is possible," Swanson said. After the last out, Vanderbilt players grabbed the championship trophy and hoisted coach Tim Corbin on their shoulders. "Every coach, you immerse yourself in the kids and they become more than baseball players; they become your sons," Corbin said. "This is a nice feeling. It's good to watch them celebrate achievements." Stone (4-0) relieved Carson Fulmer with one out in the sixth and allowed two hits before turning the game over to Ravenelle after Virginia's first two batters reached in the eighth. Ravenelle earned his third save of the CWS. Howard (2-2) came on in the eighth after Artie Lewicki had pitched six innings of four-hit relief. He left a fastball up that Norwood put over the fence, just right of the 335-foot sign. "I was just praying the whole time the ball was up there, and I couldn't believe it when it went over," Vandy's Tyler Campbell said. Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said, "You've got to credit John Norwood. The pitch was up in the zone and he took an aggressive swing and hit the ball out." Virginia broke through against Fulmer to tie it 2-2 in the sixth when Towns' bases-loaded grounder hit shortstop Vince Conde's glove and bounced off for an error. Vanderbilt led 1-0 in the first after Virginia catcher Robbie Coman sailed a throw into center field trying to catch Bryan Reynolds stealing. Swanson, who was going to third on the double steal, continued home. Another error in the sixth set up Vanderbilt's second run. Norwood grounded to third for an infield single and wound up on second after Towns' throw in the dirt skipped past first baseman Mike Papi. Norwood later came home on Conde's deep grounder to shortstop. Vanderbilt's Jack Leiter is proving to be one of a kind Just a few starts into his second-year freshman campaign, Vanderbilt righthander Jack Leiter is already the premier starting pitcher in college baseball. READ MORE College baseball rankings: Vanderbilt remains on top, Tennessee keeps climbing Vanderbilt remains at the top of the latest D1 Baseball rankings. Records reflect games played through April 4. READ MORE College baseball: Vanderbilt's Jack Leiter throws historic no-hitter Vanderbilt sophomore Jack Leiter threw the first regular season no-hitter for the Commodores since 1971 in their 5-0 win over South Carolina. READ MORE