On a cold Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Field, Vanderbilt lost game two of its season-opening series against Florida Atlantic University 5-4. The Commodores’ struggled on both the mound and in the batter’s box, only getting three hits as a team.
Bryce Cunningham got the start on Saturday, Feb. 17, looking to prove himself as a weekend starter for the Commodores. The Vanderbilt batting order remained the same as game one of the series.
After Cunningham struck out the first batter, FAU’s Christian Adams hit a double to center field to record the first hit of the game. Brando Leroux then hit a single to put the Owls on the board first. A strikeout by Cunningham finished the top of the first inning.
The Commodores looked to even the score in the bottom of the first. After RJ Austin was walked to begin the inning, an errant throw to second base resulted in an error for the Owls and advanced Austin to third. Another walk and a double by Jayden Davis earned the Commodores an early 2-1 lead.
“He [Davis] hits the barrel consistently,” head coach Tim Corbin said. “He’s got a great feel for the bat.”
Cunningham faced trouble in the second, giving up a walk and another double to advance runners to second and third with one out. However, a strikeout and a caught line drive ended the top of the second inning. Vanderbilt’s offense went stagnant in the bottom of the second, but Cunningham tossed a scoreless inning in the top of the third for Vanderbilt to remain on top.
After Vanderbilt went hitless in the bottom of the third, Cunningham was able to give up no hits in the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Troy LaNeve recorded his first hit of the season and Chris Maldonado was walked. An error by FAU’s third baseman with one out loaded the bases for Vanderbilt as they looked poised to earn more runs. A passed ball and a lineout to first base brought two Vanderbilt players home. The Commodores took a 4-1 lead going into the fifth inning.
After Cunningham allowed three hits through four innings, Sam Hliboki took to the mound. Hliboki pitched well in his first inning of the season, forcing three flyouts in the fifth.
Justin Gay went onto the mound for FAU in the bottom of the fifth, looking to hold Vanderbilt at four runs. After two early walks, the Owls went back to the bullpen and replaced Gay with Ben Gilbert. Gilbert forced a double play, stranding two Vanderbilt players on base to finish the inning.
Hliboki had a rough outing in the sixth, giving up four hits and three runs to tie the game up at 4-4. Vanderbilt struggled defensively and the Owls were able to capitalize on Hliboki’s fastballs high in the zone.
In the bottom of the sixth, FAU surrendered two walks to start the inning. A wild pitch advanced both runners to second and third with one out, as the Commodores tried to retake the lead. However, a fly out from Jack Bulger resulted in no runs for Vanderbilt.
Miller Green took the mound for the Commodores in the seventh inning, looking to shut down FAU’s offense. A walk and infield single for the Owls put Miller in a bind, and a sacrifice fly caught by Austin pushed a runner home. Heading into the seventh inning stretch, FAU was up 5-4.
Vanderbilt went scoreless in the bottom of the seventh. Andrew Dutkanych IV took over on the mound for Vanderbilt in the top of the eighth, looking to keep Vanderbilt within striking distance. Dutkanych struck out two, keeping the Owls scoreless in the eighth.
Ethan McElvain pitched the ninth inning and was able to hold the Owls scoreless, but the Commodores were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
Vanderbilt will finish its series against FAU on Sunday, Feb. 18, with first pitch at 2 p.m. CST.
