Week 14 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID (Photo by John Russell)

Overall Record: 40-15; SEC Record: 16-12
Record for the Week: 1-2

Last Week
5/20: Vanderbilt 4, Arkansas 3 (Nashville)
5/21: Arkansas 4, Vanderbilt 3 (Nashville)
5/22: Arkansas 7, Vanderbilt 5 (Nashville)

This Week - SEC Tournament
5/26: vs. Arkansas, TBA, Hoover, Ala.
5/27: vs. Florida/LSU, TBA, Hoover, Ala.

Vanderbilt (40-15, 16-12) went 1-2 on the week dropping the final regular season series of the year to Arkansas at Hawkins Field … The Commodores won their 40th game on Thursday, marking the third time in four years (2007, 2008, 2010) they have achieved that mark and the fourth time in eight years under Tim Corbin (2004 as well).

VU lost the final series of the regular season for the third straight year and the fourth time in five years … Vanderbilt extended its win streak over the Razorbacks to seven straight games after Thursday’s win before dropping the final two games by a combined three runs … The 16 conference wins tied for the second most wins in the Corbin era. VU won 16 in 2004 and 2006 and then a school record 22 in 2007.

The Commodores hit .260 as team with five homers, four doubles and 12 runs scored (4.0 per game) ... Freshman outfielder Connor Harrell led the team with a 5-for-10 (.500) showing at the plate … Sophomore third baseman Jason Esposito went into the series having reached safely 15 consecutive times and got on base the first two times on Thursday (double, single) to extend the skein to 17 before getting called out on strikes in his third at-bat. He was one shy of the NCAA record of 18 consecutive times to reach base (Shaun Larkin, Cal-State Northridge 2002).

Sophomore first-baseman Aaron Westlake homered in all three games on the weekend and has four round-trippers over the last six games dating back to the Mississippi State series. He now has 11 on the year to lead the team, and it’s also a new career high, besting the 10 he hit as a freshman a year ago … Bryan Johns went 2-for-6 (.333) with a double and two RBI in two starts on the weekend. VU is 28-7 with him in the starting lineup.

The Commodores had a 3.67 team ERA with 31 strikeouts and nine walks in 27.0 innings … Sonny Gray picked up his team leading eighth win of the year on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits in eight innings with nine strikeouts and three walks … Grayson Garvin threw three innings of one-hit scoreless relief with five strikeouts and a walk in Saturday’s loss.

Chase Reid picked up the save with an inning of relief on Friday and pitched again in relief on Saturday. He allowed two unearned runs on three hits in 3.2 innings with three strikeouts and a walk on the weekend … Drew Hayes made two relief appearances, striking five and walking just one in two innings of work … Richie Goodenow recorded two outs, including one via strikeout in his short relief stint on Friday night.

VU finished the regular season tops in the league in ERA at 3.66 and third in team batting average at .316.

Vanderbilt will start postseason play for the fifth straight season and the seventh in eight years under Tim Corbin starting on Wednesday against Arkansas.

Week 13 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID (Photo by Jimmy Jones)

Record Overall: 39-13; SEC Record: 15-10
Record for the Week: 4-0
Current Win Streak: Six Games (Longest current streak in SEC)

Last Week
5/11: Vanderbilt 11, Louisville 10 (17)
5/14: Vanderbilt 13, Mississippi State 8
5/15: Vanderbilt 13, Mississippi State 7 (10)
5/16: Vanderbilt 14, Mississippi State 4

This Week (Buy Tickets)
Note: Thursday-Saturday Series
5/20: vs. Arkansas, 6 p.m. CT, Nashville
5/21: vs. Arkansas, 6 p.m. CT, Nashville
5/22: vs. Arkansas (SportSouth), 2 p.m. CT, Nashville

Vanderbilt went 4-0 on the week, capturing a thrilling 17 inning midweek showdown over Louisville (11-10) and then sweeping Mississippi State in Starkville for the team’s second straight SEC road series win … The Commodores have now won six in a row and seven of eight entering the final weekend of conference action.

VU is currently in fourth place overall in the league standings and can finish no worse than sixth by the end of play on Saturday … With Sunday’s win over Mississippi State, the Commodores clinched their fifth straight SEC tournament appearance and their seventh trip to Hoover in eight seasons under Tim Corbin.

The Commodores series sweep was the third straight over the Bulldogs and VU now has won 10 straight games against MSU … In two of the four games this week, the team rallied from a two-run ninth-inning deficit to tie the game and then won it in extra innings.

Vanderbilt's 40 runs scored this weekend ties for the most runs scored against an SEC opponent in a three-game series in school history. The Commodores have scored 40 runs against an SEC team only once and that happened in 2007 when they swept Florida in Nashville.

As a team VU hit .340 with seven homers, 24 doubles and 51 runs scored in four games (12.75 per game). Sophomore Jason Esposito had a record setting weekend at the plate this week, starting with his walk-off solo homer in the 17th inning against No. 8 Louisville on Tuesday. Esposito was on fire in the Commodores sweep over Mississippi State over the weekend going 8-for-11 (.727) with four doubles, six runs scored with seven walks and three stolen bases. He broke a 27-year old school record having reached base safely 15 consecutive times from Friday to Sunday (still active). Record was 14 set by Tim Brecht in 1983. On Sunday he walked five times tying the school single game record for base on balls last achieved in 1999. For the week he was 10-for-19 (.526) with five doubles, a homer, two RBI and nine runs scored with three stolen bases.

Brian Harris went 8-for-19 (.421) on the week with four doubles, a homer and five RBI. He walked seven times and was hit by a pitch twice giving him an NCAA best 31 on the year … Connor Harrell went 7-for-17 with two doubles, four RBI and six runs scored … Curt Casali was 6-for-17 (.353) with a homer, five doubles and five RBI … Joe Loftus went 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles, three RBI and five runs scored … Andrew Giobbi was 8-for-24 (.333) with two homers, three doubles and 10 RBI … Bryan Johns went 4-for-9 (.444) with a double, triple, home run, two runs and four RBI in three games played.

As a team VU had a 5.20 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 18 walks in 45.0 innings. Jack Armstrong moved to 7-1 on the year with the Commodores lone quality start of the week. He allowed two runs on nine hits in seven innings with four strikeouts and two walks on Sunday … Will Clinard picked up the win against Louisville on Tuesday with six innings of relief. For the week he allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 6.2 innings of work … Richie Goodenow made two relief appearances and struck out five with a walk in four innings of one-hit scoreless work.

Vanderbilt will close out the regular season at home against Arkansas starting on Thursday. The team will recognize seven seniors prior to Friday night’s game.

Week 12 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID (Photo by Jimmy Jones)

Record Overall: 35-13, 12-10 SEC
Record for the Week: 2-1

Last Week
5/7: LSU 16, Vanderbilt 15 (10)
5/8: Vanderbilt 6, LSU 2
5/9: Vanderbilt 4, LSU 3

This Week
5/11: vs. Louisville, 6 p.m., Nashville (Flood Relief Game)
5/14: at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m. CT, Starkville
5/15: at Mississippi State, 2 p.m. CT, Starkville
5/16: at Mississippi State, 1:30 p.m. CT, Starkville

Vanderbilt went 2-1 on the week, capturing its first Southeastern Conference road series of the year against defending national champion LSU … The Commodores handed the Tigers their first SEC home series loss of the year and the first since dropping two of three to Tennessee last year. VU has now won the last three series against LSU dating back to the 2006 season.

As a team, VU hit .308 with four homers, six doubles, a triple and 25 runs scored in the three games ... Freshman second baseman Anthony Gomez (the nation’s top freshman in batting average) went 6-for-13 (.462) on the weekend with six runs scored, a homer and two RBI. He hit his first collegiate homer with two outs in the ninth against the Tigers Friday night, tying the game at 15-15.

Sophomore outfielder Joe Loftus seemed comfortable at the plate in Baton Rouge going 6-for-14 (.429) with two doubles, a triple, a homer, seven RBI and four runs scored. He was a single away from the cycle on Friday night after notching a career best five RBI and then game up with the game-winning two-out two-run single in the eighth inning of Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Tigers.

Third baseman Jason Esposito had a great weekend at the plate and in the field: going 5-for-12 (.417) with a double, three stolen bases and four runs scored while also playing a flawless third base with three putouts and 12 assists in the three games. Aaron Westlake went 5-for-14 (.357) with a double, four RBI and two runs scored

After the pitching staff combined to give up 16 runs on a season high 19 hits allowed, they buckled down under the steady pitching of Saturday starter Taylor Hill and Sunday starter Jack Armstrong … A day after the offensive barrage, Hill held the Tigers scoreless for 8.2 innings before giving up a two-out, two-run single in the ninth. He closed out the game for his first collegiate complete game, allowing the two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and a walk.

Jack Armstrong followed that performance up on Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits in 7.2 innings with three strikeouts and two walks. He left the game with the Commodores holding a 4-2 lead and is now 6-1 on the year.

Sonny Gray had his shortest starting outing of his career on Friday against LSU, allowing seven runs on seven hits in three innings with four walks and three strikeouts. The resilient sophomore bounced back from that outing, asking for the ball in relief on Sunday. He picked up his first save of the year with 1.1 innings of two-hit relief, allowing one run while striking out three.

As a team the pitching staff had a 6.18 ERA with 26 strikeouts and 10 walks in 27.2 innings pitched. Take out the Friday anomaly and the staff (consisting of Hill, Armstrong and Gray) sported a 2.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts and four walks in 18.0 innings, limiting the Tigers to a .217 average.

The Commodores return home for a special midweek game against Top 10 ranked Louisville on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Hawkins Field. Vanderbilt athletics will open up the remaining tickets for the game (approximately 1,300 available at 8:30 a.m. in the Ticket Office on Tuesday). Donations will be accepted for the Nashville chapter of the American Red Cross to go to flood relief efforts. In addition whatever tickets were sold (single game and season tickets), those proceeds will be donated from the Athletic department to the Red Cross as well as all monies collected by concessions … VU will then have its final SEC road trip of the year at Mississippi State next weekend in Starkville.

Week 11 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID (Photo by Steve Green)

Record Overall: 33-12, 10-9 SEC
Record for the Week: 1-1

Last Week
4/27: Austin Peay 5, Vanderbilt 4
4/30: Vanderbilt 17, Georgia 5

This Week
5/7: at LSU, 7 p.m. CT, Baton Rouge
5/8: at LSU (CSS), 6 p.m. CT, Baton Rouge
5/9: at LSU (Cox Sports), 1 p.m. CT, Baton Rouge

Vanderbilt went 1-1 on the rain-shortened week, falling by a run to Austin Peay in Clarksville on Tuesday before pounding Georgia, 17-5, on Friday night … The three game series against the Bulldogs was shortened due to torrential rain in the middle Tennessee area.

The Commodores snapped a three-game losing streak on Friday and scored more runs in that game than they have in five of their first six Southeastern Conference series (Kentucky- 18 in three games). The 17 runs were also the most scored in a conference series opener since scoring 17 against Georgia in 1992.

VU hit .294 on the week with three homers and 18 RBI … Anthony Gomez was 5-for-10 (.500) with three runs scored on the week while Andrew Giobbi was 3-for-8 (.375) with a homer and three RBI.

Curt Casali had a big night Friday, belting a three-run homer along with a two-run double to finish with five RBI in the win. Gomez was 4-for-5 with three runs scored while Brian Harris added two hits and five runs scored from the leadoff spot. Aaron Westlake also added two hits to help lead the 13 hit attack over the Bulldogs.

The pitching staff sported a 3.71 ERA with 17 strikeouts and four walks in 17 innings of work … Taylor Hill (4-3) pitched eight solid innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks. He recorded his first win since defeating Illinois State on March 6 when he moved to 3-0 on the season. Will Clinard closed the game out allowing two hits in an inning of scoreless relief … Grayson Garvin threw five innings of four-hit shutout baseball in the Tuesday start against Austin Peay.

The Commodores will not play a midweek game while taking finals. The next action will be at defending national champion LSU next weekend.

With the two games cancelled against Georgia, Vanderbilt now has 55 games on the regular season schedule with a maximum of 56 that can be played. The Commodores next scheduled home game will be on Tuesday, May 11 against Louisville at 6 p.m. That contest will be a rematch of last season’s NCAA Louisville Regional championship game.

Week 10 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID (Photo by Jimmy Jones)

Record Overall: 32-11, 9-9 SEC
Record for the Week: 3-2

Last Week
4/20: Vanderbilt 13, Lipscomb 10
4/21: Vanderbilt 11, Middle Tennessee 10
4/23: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 1
4/25: Tennessee 4, Vanderbilt 2 (11)
4/25: Tennessee 4, Vanderbilt 3 (7)

This Week (Buy Tickets)
4/27: at Austin Peay, 6 p.m. CT, Clarksville
4/30: vs. Georgia, 6 p.m. CT, Nashville
5/1: vs. Georgia (CSS), 6 p.m. CT, Nashville
5/2: vs. Georgia, 1 p.m. CT, Nashville

Vanderbilt went 3-2 on the week, winning the first three games of the week, before dropping a doubleheader to Tennessee on Sunday … With the doubleheader sweep, UT has now won five of the last six meetings against the Commodores … Vanderbilt has lost all three of its SEC road series this year … The team’s 4-2 loss in the first game of the doubleheader was the team’s first in three extra inning contests this year. They defeated Indiana, 6-5 in 11 innings and Austin Peay, 2-1 in 11 innings earlier this year.

Last Tuesday’s win over Lipscomb was the team’s 30th victory of the year, marking the seventh straight season the team has reached that plateau … The Commodores are 23-2 in non-conference games and 9-9 in league play ... Tuesday’s game against Austin Peay could be the final non-conference regular season game of the year. VU has played 43 games, with 14 left on the schedule. Teams can play only 56 games in the regular season, so barring a rainout this week or next week at LSU, the Louisville game on May 11 would have to be cancelled.

VU made seven errors in the three games against UT (.942 fielding percentage) and that led to four unearned runs. The pitching staff sported a 1.71 ERA with 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 26.1 innings against the Vols and limited them to just a .214 team batting average … Offensively the team hit .299 for the week and just .247 against UT.

On Friday night, Sonny Gray won his second straight game to improve to 6-4 on the year, tying a season high with 10 strikeouts. He allowed just one run on a solo homer in the third inning and gave up just three hits and did not walk a batter. Gray lowered his ERA to a team-best 2.22. The Smyrna, Tenn., native has 72 strikeouts in 69.0 innings this year while opponents are hitting just .205 off him.

Taylor Hill allowed three runs, two earned on nine hits with five strikeouts and no walks in 6.2 innings in game two of double-header. Hill has been phenomenal in his last three starts. The junior has allowed only five earned runs in his last 23 innings for a 1.96 ERA. Hill has 15 strikeouts and only one walk in his last three starts combined. The right-hander hasn’t seen much run support in his last three outings as he sports a 0-1 record during that stretch.

Jack Armstrong gave up two runs, both unearned, on four hits in 4.2 innings with three walks and no strikeouts in game one to earn the no-decision in game one of Sunday’s double-header.

Curt Casali’s solo home run in the top of seventh was his fourth long-ball of the year. It marked his first home run since homering on March 6 against Illinois State. Casali led Vanderbilt at the plate this weekend, going 5-for-9 (.556) with a home run and an RBI.

Aaron Westlake was 4-for-11 with three RBI while Connor Harrell had three RBI in two games … On the week, Westlake was 10-for-21 (.476) with two doubles, a homer, six RBI and five runs scored … Harrell was 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles, five RBI and four runs scored.

Jason Esposito was 7-for-20 (.350) with a homer, seven RBI and five runs scored while also perfect on five stolen base attempts. With his stolen base in the first inning of game one Sunday against Tennessee, Esposito raised his season total to 21 stolen bases. The mark also tops his 2009 season-total of 20 swiped bags. In 43 games this year, Esposito has converted 21 of 24 stolen base attempts and is tied with Chris Bisson of Kentucky for the league lead.

VU closes out its six-game road trip Tuesday night at Austin Peay before hosting Georgia for three games over the weekend. After the series against the Bulldogs, VU will be on the road the next two weekends (at LSU, at Mississippi State) before closing out the regular season against Top 10 ranked Arkansas (May 20-22).

Week 9 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 29-9, 8-7 SEC
Record for the Week: 3-1

Last Week
4/13: Vanderbilt 1, Middle Tennessee 0
4/16: Vanderbilt 11, Auburn 6
4/17: Auburn 12, Vanderbilt 2
4/18: Vanderbilt 3, Auburn 2

This Week
4/20: at Lipscomb, 6 p.m. CDT, Nashville
4/21: at Middle Tennessee, 6 p.m. CDT, Murfreesboro
4/23: at Tennessee (CSS), 6 p.m. CDT, Knoxville
4/24: at Tennessee (CSS), 6 p.m. CDT, Knoxville
4/25: at Tennessee, 1 p.m. CDT, Knoxville

Vanderbilt went 3-1 on the week, wrapping up an eight-game home stand with a 5-3 mark … The Commodores claimed the Auburn series with a walk-off homer by Aaron Westlake in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday. The win snapped a two series losing streak in SEC play. The Dores are one win away from reaching 30 wins in a season for the seventh straight season.

The pitching staff sported a 3.50 ERA on the week that included the fourth shutout of the year in the 1-0 win over Middle Tennessee. They had 37 strikeouts and 13 walks in 36.0 innings and now lead the SEC with a 3.06 ERA in 38 games … Drew Hayes threw 6.2 innings of four-hit shutout ball against MTSU with four strikeouts and two walks. Richie Goodenow (0.1) and Russell Brewer (2.0) finished out the game to preserve the shutout.

Sonny Gray snapped a two-game losing streak in Friday’s win over Auburn. He gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits in 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts and five walks. The Smyrna, Tenn., native is now 2-3 in the SEC with a 1.83 ERA in five starts.

Taylor Hill had his second straight career long performance this weekend going 8.2 innings in Sunday’s win over the Tigers. A week after going 7.2 innings against South Carolina, he went 8.2 innings allowing two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts no walks.

Chase Reid came on in relief on Saturday and allowed two runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and a walk … Brewer picked up his fifth save of the year in the win over MTSU and now has 17 saves in his career.

The Commodore offense remains in a slump, with a team batting average of .226 with 17 runs scored in the five games (11 in the Friday win, six in the other four games) … Joe Loftus hit .400 (4-for-10) with a homer and two RBI and Anthony Gomez hit .364 (4-for-11) with two RBI to lead VU this week. Loftus now has five homers on the year, besting the four he hit a year ago.

Vanderbilt will open a season-long six game road trip starting this week against Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee. The Friday and Saturday games against Tennessee will be televised regionally on CSS.

Week 8 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 26-8, 6-6 SEC
Record for the Week: 2-2

Last Week
4/6: Vanderbilt 12, Belmont 5
4/9: South Carolina 3, Vanderbilt 2
4/10: Vanderbilt 8, South Carolina 2
4/11: South Carolina 2, Vanderbilt 0

This Week (Buy Tickets)
4/13 vs. Middle Tennessee, 6 p.m. CT, Hawkins Field
4/16 vs. Auburn, 6 p.m. CT, Hawkins Field
4/17 vs. Auburn, 2 p.m. CT, Hawkins Field
4/18 vs. Auburn, 1 p.m. CT, Hawkins Field

Vanderbilt went 2-3 on the week, dropping its third SEC series of the season against South Carolina … The Commodores outscored the Gamecocks 10-7 on the weekend and lost in spite of stellar starting pitching by the trio of Sonny Gray, Jack Armstrong and Taylor Hill. The trio combined to pitch 24.2 innings out of a possible 27 and allowed just six runs, five earned, on 15 hits with 15 strikeouts and eight walks. They had a cume 1.82 ERA and each had the longest outings of their career.

Jack Armstrong allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks over eight innings in the Commodores 8-2 win on Sunday. He is now 5-0 on the season with a 3.43 ERA.

Taylor Hill gave up a solo homer on the first pitch of Sunday’s game and just allowed a single in the next 7.2 innings. He was the tough luck loser, allowing one run on two hits in 7.2 innings with a walk and three strikeouts.

Sonny Gray continued his solid pitching in SEC play, allowing three runs in his first collegiate complete game on Friday. He took the loss despite striking out eight and is now 1-3 in conference action with a 1.93 ERA.

As a team the Commodores had a 2.75 ERA for the week (including midweek against Belmont) with 31 strikeouts and 10 walks in 36.0 innings … Will Clinard pitched three innings of two-hit scoreless relief with two strikeouts and a walk in the win over Belmont … Grayson Garvin struck out all three batters he faced against the Bruins and now has six strikeouts in two innings of work on the year.

Offensively the Commodores hit just .270 on the week with six doubles, a triple and 22 runs scored in five games … Brian Harris led the team with a 4-for-12 (.333) week, he walked four times and was hit once (.529 on base percentage) … Aaron Westlake was 4-for-13 (.308) with five runs scored … Mike Yastrzemski was 3-for-9 (.333) with two doubles in four games, including three starts.

The Commodores close out their eight-game homestand this week with a midweek game against Middle Tennessee and then a three game series against Auburn over the weekend. The Tigers beat LSU two out of three this weekend in Auburn and are 7-5 in league play. Sunday’s game will be televised on ESPNU, marking the first time the Commodores have been on that station ... VU will then play 12 of its final 19 regular season games away from Hawkins Field.

Week 7 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 24-6, 5-4 SEC
Record for the Week: 3-2

Last Week
3/30: Vanderbilt 7, Wofford 2
3/31: Vanderbilt 10, Wofford 7
4/2: Florida 3, Vanderbilt 2
4/3: Florida 7, Vanderbilt 3
4/4: Vanderbilt 7, Florida 0

This Week (Buy Tickets)
4/6: vs. Belmont, 6 p.m.  CT,  Hawkins Field
4/9: vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m. CT, Hawkins Field
4/10: vs. South Carolina, 2 p.m. CT, Hawkins Field
4/11: vs. South Carolina, 1 p.m. CT, Hawkins Field

Vanderbilt went 3-2 on the week sweeping a midweek series against Wofford, before dropping two of three at Florida over the weekend … VU entered the weekend on an eight-game winning streak, including a 7-0 home stand, before falling by one run to Florida … Head coach Tim Corbin notched his 300th win at Vanderbilt in the Commodores 7-0 win over Florida on Sunday. He needs seven wins to pass Larry Schmittou for second place on VU’s career coaching wins list.

Sophomore right-hander Jack Armstrong came up big in the series finale against the Gators, tossing six shutout innings of four-hit baseball. Richie Goodenow (1.2) and Chase Reid (1.1) closed things out with scoreless relief. It was the Commodores third shutout of the year and the first that didn’t involve the combo of Sonny Gray and Corey Williams who shutout Niagara in the season opener and Kentucky on March 26.

Williams suffered a season ending injury on a line drive in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game. The ball broke his right kneecap and despite the obvious pain, Williams had the presence of mind to grab the ball and backhand it to first for the out. His redshirt freshman campaign ends with a 1-0 record and 2.65 ERA with 17 strikeouts and six walks in 17.0 innings … As a team VU batted .320 with six homers and 29 runs scored (5.8 per game).

Andrew Giobbi had a nice week going 10-for-20 with five doubles, a homer, five RBI and seven runs scored … Anthony Gomez was 6-for-15 (.400) with a double, five RBI and two runs scored … Jason Esposito had his first multi-homer game of his collegiate career against Florida on Sunday with two solo blasts. He now leads the team with seven round-trippers. Curt Casali has continued to struggle with his hamstring injury and had just one pinch-hit appearance against Wofford in the midweek. He will rest for the time being.

Sonny Gray was the tough luck loser on Friday, allowing two runs on four hits in 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts and a career high five walks. He left the game with a runner on in the seventh and the game tied at 1-1 … Will Clinard threw four innings of three hit scoreless relief in the Commodores 7-2 win over Wofford. He struck out five while just walking one.

Navery Moore picked up his first collegiate win against Wofford on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks in his first collegiate start … Grayson Garvin made his first appearance of the season against the Terriers on Tuesday and struck out the side in the ninth.

Week 6 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 21-4, 4-2 SEC
Record for the Week: 5-0

Last Week:
3/23: Vanderbilt 10, Lipscomb 4
3/24: Vanderbilt 18, Wright State 2
3/26: Vanderbilt 7, Kentucky 0
3/27: Vanderbilt 2, Kentucky 1 (Game 1)
3/27: Vanderbilt 9, Kentucky 8 (Game 2)

This Week (Buy Tickets):  
3/30: vs. Wofford, 6 p.m. CT
3/31: vs. Wofford, 6 p.m. CT
4/2: at Florida, 5:30 p.m. CT
4/3: at Florida, 3 p.m. CT (TV: SUN)
4/4: at Florida, 12 p.m. CT (TV: SUN)

Vanderbilt went 5-0 on the week at home and has won six in a row entering midweek play against Wofford. VU is now 21-4 overall and 4-2 in the SEC … The Commodores swept Kentucky over the weekend, winning the series for the first time since the 2007 season. The teams played a doubleheader on Saturday to avoid forecasted inclement weather on Sunday.

The Commodore bullpen came up big in the five games, notching two wins while sporting a 2.29 ERA with 21 strikeouts and eight walks in 19.2 innings. Overall the team has a 2.91 ERA, tops in the SEC, with 211 strikeouts and 82 walks in 226.0 innings … Sonny Gray and Corey Williams combined on a five-hit shutout of No. 21 Kentucky in Friday night’s win. Gray held UK to four hits in seven innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Williams came on in the eighth and pitched two innings of one-hit ball with two strikeouts and a walk. He made three relief appearances on the week and allowed just two hits with six strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

Chase Reid made two appearances and picked up wins in both and now is tied with Gray for the team lead in wins with four. He started against Lipscomb (3/23) and went six innings, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts. Reid then pitched three innings of one-hit relief with three strikeouts against Kentucky (3/27) in the 2-1 win in game one of the doubleheader. On the week he struck out six in eight innings, allowing just a run on six hits.

Drew Hayes threw five innings in two games, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. He picked up the win against Wright State, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts … Taylor Hill allowed one run, unearned, in 4.1 innings against UK in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday. Will Clinard threw three innings of two hit relief in two outings, while Russell Brewer did not allow a run of his own in three appearances, hurling 2.2 innings of two hit work with two strikeouts and two walks.

Offensively VU hit .347 with two homers, 12 doubles and 46 runs scored in five games (9 per game) … Andrew Giobbi led the team with a .455 batting average (10-for-22), including a 4-for-5 night against UK in the series finale … Brian Harris was 6-for-16 (.375) with a double, homer, four RBI and eight runs scored. He walked three times, while getting hit six more times for a .600 on base percentage. For the year he has been hit 16 times … Bryan Johns was also 6-for-16 (.375) with a double, three RBI and seven runs scored.

Vanderbilt closes out its seven game home stand with a two game series against Wofford on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Commodores will then head to Florida to take on the Gators next weekend.

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.

Week 4 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 14-1; Record for the Week: 4-0

Last Week:
3/10: Vanderbilt 9, UT Martin 1
3/12: Vanderbilt 14, Ohio 3
3/13: Vanderbilt 7, Ohio 4
3/14: Vanderbilt 5, Ohio 1

This Week (Buy Tickets):
3/16 vs. Western Kentucky, 6 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/17 vs. Western Kentucky, 3 p.m., Bowling Green
3/19 vs. Alabama, 6:35 p.m., Tuscaloosa
3/20 vs. Alabama, 3 p.m., Tuscaloosa
3/21 vs. Alabama, 2 p.m., Tuscaloosa

Vanderbilt went 4-0 on the week to improve to 14-1 on the year. The Commodores have won 10 straight games and are off to their best start since starting 2007 at 20-0 … VU hit .363 on the week with nine homers, 10 doubles and 35 runs scored ... The pitching staff sported a 2.00 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks in 36.0 innings.

Drew Hayes pitched 4.2 innings of one-hit scoreless relief in two appearances with five strikeouts. He picked up his first win of the year against Ohio on Saturday … Jack Armstrong recorded his longest collegiate outing, pitching 6.2 innings of four-hit ball against Ohio on Sunday. He allowed just one run while striking out four in his second win of the year … Will Clinard allowed one run on five hits in four innings against UT Martin on Wednesday and picked up his first collegiate win.

Russell Brewer pitched three innings of one-hit relief with four strikeouts in two games. He picked up his second save of the year in Saturday’s win over Ohio and now has 14 saves in his career. He trails David Daniels (1992-95) by one for second place and leader Ryan Rote (2004-05) by five.

Brian Harris went 6-for-12 (.500) with a double, triple and five RBI. He was hit five times and now has been hit 12 times on the year … Aaron Westlake missed the midweek game, but returned to action over the weekend and went 4-for-9 (.444) with two homers and five RBI ... Jason Esposito was 6-for-15 (.400) with a double, homer and five RBI … Joe Loftus was 6-for-16 (.375) with three homers and five RBI. He hit homers in three straight games before ending the streak against Ohio on Sunday.

Bryan Johns had a 12 game hitting streak snapped against Ohio on Saturday … Connor Harrell went 4-for-10 on the weekend with a homer, his first collegiate one, two doubles and four RBI. His three-run double against Ohio on Saturday, rallied the Commodores from a 4-3 deficit in the eighth inning … Mike Yastrzemski was 4-for-11 (.364) with his first collegiate homer against Ohio on Friday.

Anthony Gomez played in three games, starting one and was 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. He is now hitting .600 on the year in 10 games and has a team best eight game hitting streak … Vanderbilt has now outscored its opponents 134-40 in 15 games on the year.

The Dores will close out their nine-game homestand against Western Kentucky on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT. They will play WKU in Bowling Green at 3 p.m. on Wednesday before traveling to Alabama to open Southeastern Conference play next weekend. Gametimes are 6:35, 3:05 and 2:05 with the latter two games televised by Fox Sports Net (Saturday) and CSS (Sunday).

Week 3 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 10-1; Record for the Week:4-0

Last Week:
3/3: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee Tech 1
3/5: Vanderbilt 7, Kent State 1
3/6: Vanderbilt 9, Illinois State 2
3/7: Vanderbilt 6, Indiana 5 (11)

This Week (Buy Tickets):
3/10: vs. Tennessee-Martin, 4 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/12: vs. Ohio, 4 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/6: vs. Ohio, 2 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/7: vs. Ohio, 1 p.m., Hawkins Field

Vanderbilt went 4-0 on the week to improve to 10-1 on the year. VU won its first three games by a 26-4 margin before edging past Indiana 6-5 in 11 innings Sunday evening in the final game of the Music City Classic … Vanderbilt has now won six in a row and are 4-0 in its current nine-game homestand.

The Dores hit .361 as a team this week with five homers, eight doubles and 32 runs scored (8 per game) … Curt Casali led the team with a 7-for-13 (.538) week with two homers, five RBI and six runs scored. He was injured fielding a ball in the win over Indiana on Sunday and his availability this week is to be determined … Jason Esposito went 6-for-15 (.400) with two doubles, three RBI and four runs scored while also swiping five bases in five attempts … Bryan Johns was 6-for-14 (.375) with two RBI and four runs scored. He notched a hit in every game to extend his hitting streak to 10 games entering this week’s action.

Freshman outfielder Connor Harrell went 4-for-11 (.364) with a double and five RBI … Leftfielder Aaron Westlake went 5-for-14 (.357) with a homer, double and four RBI … Freshman infielder Anthony Gomez made the most of his playing time this week, going 6-for-11 (.545) with four RBI, including a three-hit, three RBI day in the win over Indiana on Sunday. Gomez came through in the clutch knocking the game-winning RBI single in the 11th inning over the Hoosiers.

The pitching staff continued its torrid start to the year, posting a 1.89 ERA on the week with 46 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 38.0 innings. Junior Chase Reid paced the team, picking up a win in a start against Tennessee Tech on Wednesday and then pitching 3.2 innings of scoreless relief in winning effort over Indiana on Sunday. In all Reid pitched 8.1 innings with nine strikeouts and just one walk and one unearned run allowed. The Southlake, Texas product is now 2-0 with a team best 0.63 ERA on the year … Fellow junior right-hander Taylor Hill went 7.1 innings in his start against Illinois State on Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in the win. He now leads the team with a 3-0 record and 1.35 ERA.

Sonny Gray struck out 10 in his seven inning outing in 7-1 win over Kent State on Friday. He now leads the team with 24 strikeouts in 19.1 innings … Will Clinard struck out seven and walked one in five innings  in two relief appearances … Richie Goodenow pitched 3.1 innings of one-hit relief in two appearances with five strikeouts … The staff as a whole leads the SEC with a 2.21 ERA.

Defensively catcher Andrew Giobbi has thrown out 10 of 15 baserunners trying to steal this year. He was named the MVP of the Music City Classic after throwing out three base runners in five attempts while also batting .429 (6-for-14).

VU will play four of the final five games on its nine-game home stand this week.

Week 2 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 6-1; Record for the Week: 3-1

Last Week:
2/23: Vanderbilt 2, Austin Peay 1 (11)
2/26: UCLA 9, Vanderbilt 2
2/27: Vanderbilt 10, USC 1
2/28: Vanderbilt 7, Oklahoma State 6

This Week (Buy Tickets):
3/2: vs. Tennessee Tech, 4 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/5: vs. Kent State 4 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/6: vs. Illinois State 4 p.m., Hawkins Field
3/7: vs. Indiana 4 p.m., Hawkins Field

Vanderbilt went 3-1 on the week, winning a midweek game against Austin Peay in extra innings before losing its first game of the season to Gerrit Cole and UCLA Friday night in the Dodgertown Classic. VU rebounded with wins over USC and against Oklahoma State at Dodger Stadium to go 2-1 in the Classic.

The Commodores hit .306 in the tourney with two homers, six doubles and 19 runs scored … Junior college transfer Bryan Johns and junior Curt Casali led the team in hitting going 6-for-11 with two doubles apiece. Johns also collected four RBI on the weekend … Leadoff hitter Brian Harris was 4-for-9 (.444) with a double, two RBI and four runs scored. He also was hit three times and walked three times and ended with a .667 slugging percentage.

The pitching staff sported a 3.81 ERA with 19 strikeouts and nine walks in 26.0 innings … Taylor Hill was the lone starter to pick up a win on the week, scattering eight hits over six innings against USC on Saturday. He struck out two and walked two in moving to 2-0 on the year … Russell Brewer picked up a win and a save on the week. He threw 2.1 innings of one hit scoreless relief against Austin Peay on Tuesday. He struck out three in picking up his first win of the year. He then closed out the Oklahoma State game on Sunday to earn his first save of the year. Brewer now has 13 saves in his career … Chase Reid had a solid start against Austin Peay on Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits in six innings of work with five strikeouts in the no decision.

Vanderbilt will open a nine-game homestand, its longest of the year, against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Week 1 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

by SID

Record Overall: 3-0; Record for the Week: 3-0

Last Week:
2/19: Vanderbilt 9, Niagara 0
2/20: Vanderbilt 16, Niagara 2
2/21: Vanderbilt 21, Niagara 3

This Week:
2/23: vs. Austin Peay, 4 p.m., Hawkins Field
2/26: at UCLA, 8 p.m., Los Angeles
2/27: at USC, 8:30 p.m., Los Angeles
2/28: vs. Oklahoma St., Noon, Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium)

Vanderbilt opened the 2010 season with a convincing three-game series sweep over Niagara. VU outscored the Purple Eagles 46-5 on the weekend with 17 doubles, two homers, 23 walks, 11 hit batters and eight stolen bases in eight attempts.

Sophomore right-hander Sonny Gray set the tone for the pitching staff throwing eight innings of three-hit baseball in Friday’s 9-0 win. He struck out eight, walked just one, and didn’t allow a base runner to advance to second base until the eighth inning. His outing was the longest in the SEC on opening weekend. Dating back to last season, Gray hasn’t allowed a run in his last 17.2 innings pitched with 21 strikeouts and just two walks.

Junior righthander Taylor Hill continued the trend on Saturday, throwing 6.2 innings of scoreless baseball with a career high nine strikeouts. VU’s season opening scoreless streak ended at 16.1 innings when Drew Hayes gave up a two-run homer with one out in the seventh.

Jack Armstrong picked up his first collegiate win in his longest outing in a Commodore uniform on Sunday. He gave up three first inning runs, then held Niagara scoreless for four innings in a 21-3 victory.

Will Clinard, Corey Williams, Joe Loftus and Sam Selman each made their first collegiate appearances on the mound and threw a scoreless inning apiece … Russell Brewer and Richie Goodenow each threw an inning of scoreless relief as well, with Goodenow striking out the side.

As a staff, VU posted a 1.67 ERA with 30 strikeouts and eight walks allowed in 27.0 innings.

The top offensive performer was sophomore third baseman Jason Esposito who went 7-for-14 with three doubles, a homer, seven RBI and six runs scored … Freshmen Connor Harrell and Regan Flaherty made the most of their opportunities hitting .571 and .600 respectively. Harrell was 4-for-7 with two walks, two hit by pitches, .727 on base percentage and five runs scored. Flaherty, younger brother of former Commodore All-American Ryan, went 3-for-5 with three doubles and six RBI.

Aaron Westlake (6-for-12), Curt Casali (5-for-10) and Brian Harris (3-for-6) each hit .500 on the weekend. Harris got on base 11 times, three via hit, five walks and three hit by pitches (.786 on base percentage) … Freshman outfielder Mike Yastrzemski was 3-for-10 with five runs scored and also made several defensive nice defensive plays as the starter in center.

The 24 hits on Sunday were the most in the Tim Corbin regime (2003-). 30 hits is the school record set in 1988 … Defensively, the team had just one mistake all weekend (on a wild throw by pitcher Jack Armstrong on a bunt attempt) and finished with a .991 fielding percentage

Vanderbilt hosts local foe Austin Peay on Tuesday and then makes its lone non-conference road trip of the season this weekend to the West Coast. VU will face UCLA and USC at their home parks, before taking on Oklahoma State on Sunday at Dodger Stadium as part of the Dodgertown Classic.

Week 12 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

Overall: 31-21, 12-14 SEC; Record Last Week: 4-1

Last Week:
5/5: Vanderbilt 8, Belmont 6 Gm 1 (Hawkins Field)
5/5: Vanderbilt 3, Belmont 0 Gm 2 (Hawkins Field)
5/8: Vanderbilt 10, Georgia 2 (Athens)
5/9: Vanderbilt 9, Georgia 2 (Athens)
5/10: Georgia 4, Vanderbilt 3 (Athens)

This Week (Buy Tickets):
Please note the UT series starts Thursday
5/14: vs. Tennessee - 6 p.m. CT
5/15: vs. Tennessee - 6 p.m. CT
5/16: vs. Tennessee - Noon CT (CSS)

Notes:
Vanderbilt went 4-1 on the week with a midweek doubleheader sweep over Belmont and a series win over Georgia in Athens over the weekend … The Commodores magic number is two to reach their fourth straight Southeastern Conference tournament and sixth in seven seasons under Tim Corbin. Two wins or a win and Kentucky loss would solidify a spot in the eight-team field. Depending on outcomes this week, VU could finish as high as sixth and as low as ninth.

After a rough week at South Carolina, the Commodore pitching staff rebounded with a stellar five games, posting a 3.15 team ERA with 45 strikeouts and 19 walks in 40.0 innings of work with two complete games … Nick Christiani started the solid week out with a complete game shutout over Belmont on Tuesday ... Sonny Gray made his first collegiate start Friday night in Athens and held No. 12 Georgia to just one run on three hits (all singles) in six innings to pick up the win. He struck out seven and walked four in moving to 4-1 on the year … Minor threw his first complete game of the year in a series clinching win over No. 12 Georgia on Saturday in Athens. He struck out 12 batters, one off his career high, while allowing two runs on five hits with two walks. He held the Bulldogs hitless and scoreless in seven of the nine innings pitched as UGA scored a run on three hits in the fourth and another on two hits in the eighth.

Grayson Garvin (0.2), Richie Goodenow (0.2) and Chase Reid (0.1) did not allow a run in their appearances on the week … The pitchers held a powerful Georgia lineup to just eight runs on the weekend, four coming in the series finale on Sunday. The Bulldogs were limited to just a .185 batting average while striking out 32 times in 26.0 innings.

Offensively the Commodores jumped out to 4-0 leads in the first inning of both the Friday and Saturday wins over Georgia. The team hit .318 on the week with four homers, eight doubles and 33 runs scored … Aaron Westlake led the Commodores to a 4-1 week, going 10-for-17 (.588) with two homers, five RBI and seven runs scored. He vaulted into the SEC batting title lead with a 7-for-11 (.636) weekend against Georgia, with two homers, five RBI and five runs scored. He now leads the conference with a .395 batting average along with six homers and 44 RBI … Andrew Giobbi went 7-for-17 (.412) with a homer, two doubles and six RBI … Freshman Riley Reynolds was 8-for-21 (.381) with a double and five RBI, while fellow frosh Joe Loftus went 6-for-16 (.375) with a RBI and three runs scored.

The Commodores close out the regular season against in-state rival Tennessee starting on Thursday at Hawkins Field. Prior to Saturday’s game the Commodores will honor seniors Nick Christiani and Jonathan White. The two along with redshirt junior Brian Harris graduated from Vanderbilt on Monday morning.

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.

Week 9 Baseball Notebook

Overall: 23-16, 7-10 SEC; Record for the Week: 2-3

Last Week:
4/14 Vanderbilt 15, Middle Tennessee 7 (Nashville)
4/15 Vanderbilt 8, Morehead State 0 (Nashville)
4/17 Alabama 10, Vanderbilt 4 (Nashville)
4/18 Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 3 (Game 1) (Nashville)
4/18 Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 6 (Game 2) (Nashville)

This Week (Buy Tickets):
4/21 at Austin Peay - 6 p.m. CT
4/22 at Louisville - 5 p.m. CT
4/24 Mississippi State - 6 p.m. CT
4/25 Mississippi State - 1 p.m. CT
4/26 Mississippi State - 1 p.m. CT

Notes:
Vanderbilt went 2-3 on the week with a pair of midweek wins and a three-game series sweep at the hands of Alabama over the weekend. It was the first time the Commodores were swept in Nashville since Florida did it at the end of the 2005 season to capture the Southeastern Conference regular season title. It was also the first time Alabama swept the series in Nashville since the 2000 campaign.

On the week, VU hit .311 as a team with three homers, 11 doubles, a triple and 36 runs in five games … Brian Harris broke out of an offensive slump that lowered his batting average to under .300 with a 7-for-16 (.438) week with four doubles, a homer and four RBI … Joe Loftus also had a nice week going 9-for-21 with three doubles, five runs and three RBI … Andrew Giobbi went 9-for-24 (.375) with two homers, a double and six RBI as the leadoff hitter. He has boosted his average to .303 on the season … Riley Reynolds went 6-for-14 with a double, four RBI and four runs scored. His hitting streak reached 19 games before ending in the first game of the doubleheader against the Crimson Tide on Saturday … Alex McClure went 4-for-9 (.444) in a limited role that saw him make his first ever start in right field in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday.

The pitching staff had a strong week strikeout wise with 65 K’s and 17 walks in 45.0 innings. They held Alabama, the league’s top hitting team (.345 entering the weekend), to just a .283 average with 41 strikeouts and 10 walks in 27.0 innings. The big blows were eight homers given up in the three-game set and nine for the week … Drew Hayes had a big week with two solid starting outings. He started and went five innings in a 8-0 shutout over Morehead State in midweek. He struck out six, allowed just three hits with two walks. He then held Bama in check for 4.2 innings allowing three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. He was 1-0 on the week with 13 strikeouts and three walks in 9.2 innings of work … Nick Christiani (2.0), Chase Reid (1.0) and Russell Brewer (1.0) combined with Hayes on the shutout.

Sean Bierman had a solid week, allowing one run on three hits in 7.2 innings of relief with eight strikeouts and a walk. He pitched 4.2 innings of two-hit scoreless relief against Alabama in the first game of the doubleheader and struck out four with no walks … Brewer pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless relief in two outings with seven strikeouts and just one walk. He pitched 3.1 innings of two-hit shutout relief against Alabama in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday … Mike Minor had his shortest outing dating back to the season opener with six innings of work in Friday night’s opener. He allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks in the no-decision.

Vanderbilt plays its final two scheduled midweek games of the year on the road against Austin Peay and Louisville before hosting Mississippi State next weekend at Hawkins Field … The Commodores currently have 53 games on the regular season schedule and are looking to add another game after final exams in a couple of weeks.

Week 7 Vanderbilt Baseball Notebook

Record Overall: 19-12; Record for the Week: 2-2

Last Week:
4/1 Belmont 15, Vanderbilt 6 (Greer Stadium)
4/3 Florida 8, Vanderbilt 4 (Hawkins Field)
4/4 Vanderbilt 4, Florida 3 (Hawkins Field)
4/5 Vanderbilt 16, Florida 9 (Hawkins Field)

This Week:
4/7 at Middle Tennessee 6 p.m. CT
4/10 at Arkansas 6:35 p.m. CT
4/11 at Arkansas 3:05 p.m. CT
4/12 at Arkansas 1:05 p.m. CT

Notes:
Vanderbilt went 2-2 on the week to move 19-12 on the season … The Commodores lost their first midweek game of the season, but rebounded to take their first Southeastern Conference series of the year against No. 19 Florida. The series win was the first in league action since sweeping Tennessee last year and the first home conference series win since defeating Auburn last year (April 18-20) … VU rallied back from a seven run deficit, 9-2, in the sixth inning on Sunday, scoring 14 unanswered to win 16-9. Till that point the team had just five hits and two runs, one unearned. They finished with 16 hits, 11 coming in final three innings.

The Dores hit .263 on the week with four homers, two triples, six doubles and 30 runs scored (7.5 per game) … Curt Casali had big week going 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles, a homer, six runs scored and four RBI … Andrew Giobbi continued to be on a tear since returning from a broken hand. He went 6-for-13 (.462) with a double, triple, five RBI and four runs scored. In the seven games he has been back in the starting lineup he is 12-for-27 with a double, triple, homer, eight RBI and six runs scored … Steven Liddle had a hit in all four games to extend his hitting streak to eight. He went 6-for-17 (.353) with two doubles, a homer and four RBI with six runs scored … Also extending a hit streak was Riley Reynolds who now has a 13 game skein. He was 6-for-19 (.316) with a double on the week.

The pitching staff sported a 7.97 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 14 walks in 35.0 innings … Caleb Cotham picked up his first SEC win of the year in Saturday’s 4-3 win. He gave up three runs, one earned, on four hits in eight innings with six strikeouts and five walks. He leads the SEC in opponents batting average at .188 … Sonny Gray played the key role on the mound in the series win over Florida. He picked up the save, his fourth of the year, with an inning of scoreless relief in Saturday’s. He then came on in the eighth in Sunday’s 9-9 tie game and held Florida in check, limiting them to just one hit in two innings with three strikeouts. He went 1-0 with a save in two appearances on the week with four strikeouts and one walk in three innings of work. He was the lone Commodore pitcher to not allow a run against the Gators … Freshman Grayson Garvin pitched two innings of scoreless relief against Belmont last Tuesday. He allowed just one single, while striking out three and walking one.

Week 4 Baseball Notebook

Overall: 11-6; Record for the Week: 2-2

Last Week:
3/10 Vanderbilt 22, Lipscomb 4
3/13 Ole Miss 9, Vanderbilt 3
3/15 Ole Miss 6, Vanderbilt 1 (Gm1)
3/15 Vanderbilt 7, Ole Miss 6 (Gm2)

This Week (Buy Tickets):
3/17 vs. South Alabama - 4 p.m. CT at Hawkins Field
3/18 vs. Belmont - 6 p.m. CT at Hawkins Field
3/20 at Kentucky - 5:30 p.m. CT at Cliff Hagan Stadium
3/21 at Kentucky - Noon CT at Cliff Hagan Stadium
3/22 at Kentucky - Noon CT at Cliff Hagan Stadium

Notes:
Vanderbilt went 2-2 on the week and opened Southeastern Conference play with a series loss to Ole Miss over the weekend … It was the first SEC opening weekend loss since the 2005 campaign. The Commodores 9-3 loss on Friday was the first in an SEC opener since the 2004 season at Ole Miss and the first in a SEC home opener since the 2002 season (Georgia) … VU opened the week with a 22-4 win over Lipscomb, it marked the first time the Commodores scored over 20 runs in a game in Tim Corbin’s tenure and was the first time since defeating Yale 22-5 in 2000.

1B Curt Casali led the team with a 5-for-12 (.417) showing with a homer, double and six RBI … SS Brian Harris was 5-for-17 (.357) with two doubles, five RBI and seven runs scored. He went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader against Ole Miss on Sunday including three RBI in the 7-6 win in the finale … Aaron Westlake went 5-for-15 (.333) with two doubles and four RBI … Steven Liddle extended his hit streak to 13 games and hit .313 (5-for-16) with three runs scored. He hit his first collegiate homer against Lipscomb on Tuesday … DH Joe Loftus proved to be a on-base monster as he started in all four games on the week and walked nine times with one strikeout (.733 on base percentage). He also hit 2-for-6 (.333) and was second on the team with six runs scored on the week … As a team VU hit .305 with three homers and 33 runs scored.

The pitching staff sported a 6.47 ERA in four games with 36 strikeouts and 18 walks in 32.0 innings … Freshman right-hander Sonny Gray helped salvage the final game of the Ole Miss series pitching 3.2 innings in relief and picked up his first collegiate win. He struck out three and walked two and allowed his first run of the year on two hits … Drew Hayes pitched 3.2 innings of hitless relief in the win over Lipscomb. He struck out five and walked two to pick up his first win of the year … Chase Reid pitched 2.0 innings of one-hit scoreless relief in the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday … The starters did not fare well during the week as Caleb Cotham had the longest outing in the four games with five innings of action.