Week 10 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

Overal: 27-17, 10-10 SEC; Record for the Week: 4-1

Last Week:
4/21: Austin Peay 9, Vanderbilt 8 (Clarksville)
4/22: Vanderbilt 4, Louisville 3 (Louisville)
4/24: Vanderbilt 8, Mississippi State 6 (Nashville)
4/25: Vanderbilt 10, Mississippi State 4 (Nashville)
4/26: Vanderbilt 11, Mississippi State 3 (Nashville)

This Week:
5/1: at South Carolina 6 p.m. CT (SportSouth)
5/2: at South Carolina 6 p.m. CT (SportSouth)
5/3: at South Carolina 12:30 p.m. CT (SportSouth)

Notes:
Vanderbilt went 4-1 on the week with the lone loss, a one-run defeat on the road against Austin Peay last Tuesday. VU then won four in a row, starting with a come from behind win against Big East front-runner Louisville last Wednesday on the road. The win was the first for the Commodores after trailing heading into the ninth (0-13 previously) … The team took the momentum of the win into the Mississippi State series and swept the Bulldogs in three games for the second straight season. VU has now won the last seven meetings dating back to the 2007 SEC tourney and 11 of 13 dating back to the 2004 campaign … The 29 runs scored against MSU was the most in a conference series this year, besting the 25 scored against Auburn.

Brian Harris led the way on the week, going 10-of-22 (.455) with three doubles, two homers, seven RBI and seven runs scored in five games back in the lead off spot. He drew a 3-2 bases loaded walk to bring in the tying run in the ninth with two outs against Louisville in a game the Commodores would win 4-3 in 10 innings. He accounted for three RBI in that road win and then went 8-for-13 (.615) with two doubles, two homers, four RBI and five runs scored in leading VU to a sweep of Mississippi State. He is now tied for second in the SEC with 16 doubles … Aaron Westlake was 8-for-18 (.444) on the week with two homers, a double, and eight RBI. His homers came in a big way over the weekend, hitting a grand-slam homer in Friday’s win over Mississippi State and then adding a three-run homer in Saturday’s series clincher. He was 5-for-11 (.455) with a double, two homers and eight RBI in the three games against the Bulldogs. The California native leads the team with a .368 batting average and is among the SEC leaders in hits with 60.

Steven Liddle had a big week as well, going 10-for-23 (.435) with two doubles, two homers, seven RBI and 11 runs scored from the two-hole in the lineup. He went 7-for-14 against MSU with two homers, six RBI and eight runs scored … Curt Casali went 6-for-14 (.429) with two homers and five RBI against the Bulldogs. He now leads the team with eight homers and 44 RBI … Freshman second baseman Riley Reynolds went 7-for-19 (.368) with two doubles and two runs scored on the week … VU hit .322 in five games with nine homers (all on the weekend) and 41 runs scored.

Mike Minor picked up his first save since his freshman year against Louisville, recording an out to end the game. He then struck out a career-high 13 batters against Mississippi State on Friday. He gave up four runs on seven hits in 7.2 innings and walked three in the winning effort … Drew Hayes picked up his fourth win of the year on Saturday, holding the Bulldogs to two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings with five strikeouts and three walks … Russell Brewer made three relief appearances on the week and did not allow a hit while striking out seven with no walks in three innings. He picked up the win against Louisville and then struck out the only batter he faced in Friday night’s win to pick up his third save of the year.

Nick Christiani allowed two earned runs in 7.1 innings of relief work on the week with five strikeouts and one walk. He got the win against MSU on Sunday, allowing one run in 3.1 innings with a strikeout … Sonny Gray earned his team best fifth save of the year on Sunday, allowing one run on three hits in 2.2 innings while striking out six and walking none … Sean Bierman earned his first collegiate save on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings with two strikeouts and no walks … The pitching staff sported a 4.00 ERA on the week with 53 strikeouts and 13 walks in 45.0 innings.