There was, as any sad U of L Cardinal fan understands, a consensus. A healthy consensus, and almost universal belief.
That Luke Smith, who again hurled brilliantly in this 2019 post season -- three hits, none after the 3d, ten strikeouts, but one walk, and a single score on 106 pitches -- should have been pulled after those eight masterful innings.
Should have been pulled because his competitive bile at the end of that half inning -- hurling antagonistic invective toward the Vandy dugout and Julian Infante whom he’d just struck out -- could well awaken the beast that is Vanderbilt.