If the Vanderbilt Commodores are going to reach Omaha, Nebraska, and have a chance to defend their national championship at the College World Series, they must do something this program has never managed.

Win a Super Regional on the road.

Not that coach Tim Corbin and the Commodores sound the least bit daunted by the pressure of trying to follow up their feat of a year ago when they won Vanderbilt's first national title in a men's sport.

Junior pitcher Walker Buehler said Thursday winning the title last summer was cool and fun but the Commodores know they haven't done anything yet this season. He says getting that chance now means playing good baseball this weekend at Illinois.

Illinois won its first-ever NCAA Regional, going 3-0 while hosting the first NCAA Champaign Regional at Illinois Field. The Illini advanced to the Super Regional for the first time in school history.