Vanderbilt Baseball (4-1) grabbed its third consecutive win on Feb. 18 when it defeated Air Force 5-2. The contest marked the fifth-straight game played by head coach Tim Corbin’s squad, who will get a two-day break before facing off against St. Mary’s in Hawkins Field.
“We’ve never done this before,” Corbin said postgame. “Playing five games, especially to start the season.”
Brennan Seiber got the nod for the Commodores. The righty sophomore made his second appearance of the year after pitching two innings and allowing two runs against Nebraska on Saturday. He did not disappoint as he went three innings, striking out six while only allowing three baserunners. Easton Miller earned the start for Air Force and went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks.
Jacob Humphrey was the star of the show for the ‘Dores, as he went 3-for-4 at the plate including a triple and posted 2 RBIs. Chris Maldonado was stellar as well, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
“We’re putting a lot of balls in play. We’re hitting the ball hard. Some of us aren’t finding the gaps but we’re gonna keep pushing through,” Humphrey said postgame,
Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0
Seiber got off to a rocky start after Alex Adams — who was a thorn in the side for Vanderbilt in its 3-1 win against Air Force on Feb. 17 — ripped a ground ball into right field for a single. Adams stole second after a wild pitch. Seiuber quickly settled in, though, as he struck out Walker Zapp, Tripp Garrish and Luke Elmore to end the inning.
Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0
Vanderbilt didn’t fare much better at the plate than its opponent, going three up, three down as RJ Austin flied out as Riley Nelson and Jayden Davis both grounded out.
Top 2: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0
Seiber picked up right where he left off in the top of the first inning, striking out both T.J. Oster and Zach Peters to up his strikeout count to five. Christian Taylor popped out to second base to end the inning in quick fashion.
Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0
Colin Barczi struck out to open the inning but Mac Rose worked a walk to earn Vanderbilt its first baserunner as Rustan Rigdon came to the plate. Rose was caught leading off of first and got picked off by Miller. Rigdon kept the inning alive with a base hit into center field, but Maldonado’s cold streak continued as he struck out swinging.
Top 3: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0
Sieber got into a bit of trouble with two outs in the top of the third frame when Adams walked and Zapp singled to put runners on the corner. He got out of the jam when Garrish grounded into a fielder’s choice and ended the inning.
Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0
Humphrey hit a deep ball to the warning track in center field to start the inning off, but Christian Taylor handled it without a problem. Jonathan Vastine grounded out soon thereafter before Austin singled. The inning didn’t last long, though, as Nelson grounded out to second.
Top 4: Vanderbilt 0, Air Force 0
Matthew Shorey came in for Vanderbilt at the start of the fourth inning and made quick work of Air Force, going 1-2-3, an encouraging start after he allowed five earned runs across two games over the weekend.
Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 2, Air Force 0
Davis walked to start the inning before Barczi grounded into a double play, third to second to first base. Rose drew his second walk in as many at-bats as Rigdon followed it up with a scorcher up the first base line, setting runners up on the corners. Maldonado drove in his first run of the season on his first hit of the season with a shot to the left field wall. Humphrey kept things going with a single up the middle of the field that scored Rigdon. Vastine had a chance with two runners in scoring position but couldn’t capitalize as he flied out to left field.
Top 5: Vanderbilt 2, Air Force 0
Levi Huesman came in for relief of Shorey and allowed a double to Taylor to open the fifth inning. He settled in and induced a groundout and strikeout before England Bryan came in to finish the inning and did so quickly, forcing Adams to ground out.
Top 6: Vanderbilt 2, Air Force 2
Air Force quickly got on the board to open the sixth inning when Zapp demolished a home run over the left field wall. Bryan got Garrish to ground out before Elmore and Oster both walked. A wild pitch sent Elmore and Oster to second and third base, respectively, as Zach Peters brought the tying run home with a sacrifice ground out. Taylor struck out, ending the inning.
Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 2, Air Force 2
Cranz Smelcer, who came in for Miller in the fifth, returned to the mound in the sixth inning. Barczi and Rose failed to reach base to start the inning before Rigdon worked a walk — his third time reaching base in as many attempts. He stole second base to get into scoring position but Maldonado grounded out, ending the inning.
Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 4, Air Force 2
Vanderbilt recaptured the lead after Humpjhrey tripled to left field on a bizarre play and Vastine sacrificed to right field the bring him home. It was an inning of triples for the ‘Dores as RJ Austin ripped the team’s second extra-base hit to right field and used his speed to extend to third base Austin reached home after he beat the throw from first base off a grounder from Nelson to earn the Commodores their second run of the inning. Smelcer’s outing ended after that as Sam Hentges came in with one out in the bottom of the seventh and finished the inning with a strikeout of Davis and a ground out from Barczi.
Top 8: Vanderbilt 4, Air Force 2
Jakob Shulz, who pitched the seventh inning, was sharp to start the eighth, striking out the only batter he faced. Tommy O’Rourke was tasked with maintaining a two-run lead for the Commodores and did just that. He struck out Elmore and got Brooks Ward to ground out, ending the inning.
Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 5, Air Force 2
Vanderbilt added to its lead in the bottom of the eighth after Rogers walked and Maldonado singled to put runners on the corner. Humphrey ripped a single to score Rogers, but Vanderbilt couldn’t capitalize on two runners on with just one out as Vastine grounded out and Austin flied out.
Top 9: Vanderbilt 5, Air Force 2
Ryan Ginther got the save opportunity for the Commodores but started off by allowing a single to Taylor. He then struck Dawson Thrush, Niednagel and Adams out to inch closer to officially secure the save and get Vanderbilt its third-straight win.
Vanderbilt Baseball will be back in action this weekend when it welcomes St. Mary’s into Nashville. The series’ first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CST on Feb. 21.
