No. 15 Vanderbilt Baseball welcomed Air Force into Nashville with a 3-1 victory after starting its season on the road during a three-game stint at the 2025 MLB Desert Invitational. The VandyBoys had their home opener moved up a day from Feb. 18 to Feb. 17 due to weather concerns later in the week, and this matchup against Air Force marked their fourth game in as many days. 

“We just sucked it up,” Corbin said. “[We] learned [we] were gonna play last night at probably 11:30 [p.m.], so [we got] back here and put the equipment away [and] I think they got to bed by 2:30 [a.m.] or so. But part of it, and obviously [it was a] challenging day, but [at the] same time, we won the game, that’s really all it.”

Austin Nye got the starting nod for the Commodores, and the 6’2 righty impressed in a short burst, going three innings while allowing four baserunners (three walks and one single) while striking out five. He squared off against Air Force starter Bowen Brantingham, whose day ended after 4.1 innings pitched, 4 hits, 4 walks, 1 earned run and 5 strikeouts. 

Nye spoke on his first college outing after the game.

“I loved it. It was good to get back out there,” Nye said. “I just came off of Tommy John surgery and haven’t pitched in a game in a couple of years. But you know, it was a blessing to go back out there tonight and be back in the game again.”

The game was a slugfest through and through — neither team could get it going at the plate. Both Vanderbilt (10) and Air Force (8) stranded several runners on base and batted a combined 3-for-28 with runners in scoring position.

In the end, a run-scoring balk, a Colin Barczi triple and a JD Rogers home run — along with 14 total strikeouts — gave the Commodores all they needed to win.

“All that matters, really, is that we’re 3-1,” Barczi said postgame. “I’m helping the team as much as I can, defensively especially.

The game

Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0

Nye started things out for the Commodores with two quick outs, getting T.J. Oster to ground out before striking Christian Taylor out looking. Alex Adams came back with a single but was later caught stealing on the next at-bat, ending the inning.

Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0

RJ Austin started in the leadoff spot for the Black and Gold, as he’s done in all four of the team’s games, but couldn’t give Riley Nelson a baserunner as he grounded out to third. Nelson worked a quick walk off of Brantingham. Jayden Davis followed things up with a groundball into left field to give Vanderbilt runners at first and second base with just one out. That momentum quickly ground to a halt as Barczi grounded into a double play, ending the inning.

Top 2: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0

Tripp Garrissh and Walker Zapp started the top of the second frame with back-to-back walks. He worked his way back into the inning after a pop-out bunt from Zach Peters, and a strikeout of Luke Elmore put two outs on the board before. Ben Niednagel worked a walk to load the bases, but Nye stayed composed and struck Cam Anstey out, stranding all three runners. 

Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force

Mac Rose, a transfer catcher from McLennan Community College, started the bottom of the second with a walk. Braden Holcomb followed suit as Rustan Rigdon laid down a picture-perfect bunt to load the bases with no outs for Jacob Humphrey. Humphrey grounded out, and Rose was thrown out at home before Jonathan Vastine struck out looking at a full count, bringing Austin to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded up. Austin worked the count full as well but also struck out, stranding three runners and leaving both teams knotted up at 0. 

Top 3: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0 

Nye produced a quick 1-2-3 inning, his cleanest of the evening, striking out Oster and Taylor before Adams lined out to right field. 

Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0

Vanderbilt came right back with a 1-2-3 inning at the plate as Nelson and Davis popped out, and Barczi struck out, sending the ‘Dores back into the field. 

Top 4: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0 

Connor Fennell came out in relief of Nye, whose final line came out at 3 innings pitched with 1 hit, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. Fennell allowed a single but otherwise struck out all three batters he faced. 

Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 1, Air Force 0

Rose and Holcomb both flew out to the outfield before Rigdon drilled a ground ball between first and second base for a single. He got into scoring position after stealing second as Humphrey put runners on the corner on an infield hit. Humphrey stole second before a balk sent Rigdon home to give Vanderbilt its first run of the game and the lead. 

Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 1, Air Force 0 

RJ Austin worked a walk to start the ending and advanced to third base by way of a balk and a steal before Nelson struck out. Davis Rhyne came in for Brantingham, striking out Davis and inducing a pop fly from Barczi, stranding Austin at third.

Top 6: Vanderbilt 1, Air Force 0

Air Force threatened as Adams led off with a single and stole second, but Fennell put momentum back in Vanderbilt’s hands as he struck Garrish out. Luke Guth then relieved Fennell and allowed a double to Zapp, but a stellar throw from Austin in left field caught Adams at home to keep Air Force off the board. Guth ended the inning with a strikeout.

Top 7: Vanderbilt 1, Air Force 0

Elmore got to Guth early with a hard-hit single into center field, but the right-handed pitcher got out of the inning by inducing a groundout, strikeout and a foul out. 

Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 2, Air Force 0

Austin kicked the inning off by crushing a single to third base that Adams couldn’t handle before Nelson walked. Things looked good for Vanderbilt as Davis ripped a ball, but it went right to the hands of Niednagel, and Austin was doubled off second base. Barczi came up next and crushed a ball to the gap between center and right field, sending Nelson all the way home and reaching third base on the way. 

Top 8: Vanderbilt 2, Air Force 0

Guth let up a single to Kayden Bradshaw to open the inning but induced a double play and struck Tripp out to get out of the mini jam and put Vanderbilt three outs away from the win. 

Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 3, Air Force 0

Rogers opened the eighth inning by crushing a home run over the bleachers in right field to pad Vanderbilt’s lead. Rigdon walked to give Vanderbilt another baserunner, but Humphrey grounded out, Vastine struck out and Austin lined out to end the inning.

Top 9: Vanderbilt 3, Air Force 1

Alex Kranzler came in to close the game for Vanderbilt, but an error with two outs put a runner on second base. Niednegal made him pay with a single to right field that scored a runner

The VandyBoys will return to the mound in less than 24 hours when they take on this same Air Force squad on Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. CST.