Vandy's Rhett Wiseman took a pitch to the neck on Friday. He stayed in the game.
Vandy's Rhett Wiseman took a pitch to the neck on Friday. He stayed in the game. (USATSI)

On Friday night, Vanderbilt advanced to their second straight College World Series Finals with a convincing 7-1 win over TCU. Vandy awaits the winner of Saturday night's Florida-Virginia elimination game.

In the first inning of Friday's game, Vandy outfielder Rhett Wiseman squared around to bunt and ended up taking an 89 mph fastball from TCU's Tyler Alexander to the neck. It wasn't intentional, but still, fastballs to the neck are never good. Here's the video:

"First, I had to make sure I could breathe. Then I got numb on that side of my body, and I had to make sure it came back. But then it all came back, and I was good to go," said Wiseman to Adam Sparks of the Tennessean.

"I knew it was my neck, not my jaw. I was fortunate it didn't hit my jugular or my windpipe," he added. "But it's the College World Series, baby. You're not taking me out of this game. And (coach Tim Corbin) was like, 'Yeah, I know.'"

Wiseman remained in the game and took his base. He singled and came around to score in the third inning, then swatted a solo home run in the fourth inning. Here's the homer:

Wiseman went 2 for 4 with two RBI in the game. He still had a mark on his neck during his postgame interviews:

Good grief, man. It amazes me that Wiseman took a fastball to the neck, kept playing, and then hit a dinger. I'm pretty sure I'd curl into the fetal position if an 89-mph fastball came within about a foot of my body, nevermind actually hit me.

Wiseman, by the way, was a third-round pick by the Nationals in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft two weeks ago. As soon as the College World Series is over, he's got a six-figure payday waiting for him. His draft position comes with a $554,100 slot value.