Week 5 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 16-4; Record for the Week: 2-3

Last Week:
3/16: WKU 17, Vanderbilt 2
3/17: Vanderbilt 17, WKU 6
3/19: Alabama 4, Vanderbilt 1
3/20: Alabama 8, Vanderbilt 2
3/21: Vanderbilt 5, Alabama 4

This Week (Buy Tickets):  
3/23: vs. Lipscomb, 6 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/24: vs. Wright State, 6 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/26: vs. Kentucky, 6 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/27: vs. Kentucky, 2 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/28: vs. Kentucky, 1 p.m., Hawkins Field

Vanderbilt went 2-3 on the week, splitting a midweek series with WKU before dropping two of three at Alabama over the weekend in the SEC opener. VU is now 16-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play … The Commodores went into the week riding a 10 game winning streak but that was snapped in convincing fashion by the Hilltoppers, 17-2, on Tuesday. Vanderbilt returned the favor on Wednesday scoring nine first inning runs in a 17-6 win in Bowling Green.

Errors plagued the Commodores this week as nine mistakes led to 13 unearned runs in five games. VU fielded .954 on the week, while WKU and Alabama made just four between them for a .979 fielding percentage.

The Commodore bats did not have as strong a week, hitting .303 as a team with a homer, 11 doubles and 27 runs scored … The pitching staff sported a 5.44 ERA and the strikeout to walk ratio was 34 to 28 in 43.0 innings … Freshman Anthony Gomez continues to impress offensively going 11-for-17 (.647) with a double, four RBI and two runs scored in four starts in five games played. He has a 13 game hitting streak, and in five of them he has extended his streak in just one at bat. He was 8-for-12 (.667) against Alabama with a stolen base.

Aaron Westlake was 9-for-23 (.391) in five games with two doubles, a triple and four RBI … Connor Harrell was 7-for-19 (.368) with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored … Curt Casali returned to action after missing six games with the hamstring injury. He pinch hit in the Friday opener against the Tide, then started at DH in the final two games. He was 1-for-7 with two runs scored in his return.

Jack Armstrong continued where he left off last weekend against Ohio on the mound, allowing just one earned run in 6.1 innings against Alabama on Sunday. He picked the win to move to 3-0 on the year. He has allowed just two earned runs in his last 13 innings of work. Sonny Gray was the tough luck loser on Friday, allowing one earned run over 5.2 innings with four strikeouts against the Crimson Tide.

Closer Russell Brewer continues to impress, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings over two games on the week. He picked up his third save of the year with 2.2 innings of one-hit shutout relief against Alabama on Sunday. He has not allowed a run of his own in 11.1 innings this year with 12 strikeouts and just one walk. He has 15 saves in his career … Corey Williams picked up his first collegiate win against WKU on Wednesday, throwing two innings of one-hit scoreless relief.

Vanderbilt will play open a seven game home stand this week with midweek games against Lipscomb and Wright State, before hosting Kentucky over the weekend.