Game 3
The Commodores looked to sweep the series against the Red Wolves after outscoring them by a combined 28-6 in 15 innings in Games 1 and 2 of the series.
Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Marist 0
Right-hander and Vanderbilt’s typical Sunday starter, Nate Taylor, made quick work of the first two batters, forcing them to fly out and strike out, respectively. After walking the third batter on a full count, the sophomore recovered quickly, striking out Kyle Pollack looking.
Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 0, Marist 0
Logan Johnstone was the leadoff man for the Commodores, working Marist pitcher Steven Mazza up to a full count before hitting a high infield fly for the Black and Gold’s first out. Brodie Johnston made contact with the first pitch he faced, but it went off the inside of his bat and second baseman AJ Brotz was able to make a good play on it in shallow right field. Mike Mancini then grounded out to the first baseman to end the first inning.
Top 2: Vanderbilt 0, Marist 1
Pollack started the Red Wolves on offense and quickly found himself on base when he singled to left field. Taylor then caught Brotz swinging but walked Ayden McNelly and Connor Lawrence back-to-back to load the bases with just one out. The Georgia native added a second out when he struck out Luis Cedeno swinging, but Marist added a run on the following pitch when it passed Mack Whitcomb. Taylor was able to get out of the inning and limit the damage to one when he struck out Baer.
Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 0, Marist 1
Vanderbilt was unable to get anything going on offense, going 1-2-3 at the plate with Holcomb grounding out, Tommy Goodin striking out looking and Whitcomb hitting a pop-up to the shortstop.
Top 3: Vanderbilt 0, Marist 1
Taylor faced the leadoff batter, Noel Rivera, into a routine grounder to the shortstop. However, Ryker Waite made an uncharacteristic error and Rivera reached base. The ‘Dores made up for the error on the next play on a four-six-three double play. Taylor then recorded his fifth K of the afternoon and ended the inning on the next batter.
Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 2, Marist 1
Chris Maldonado got things rolling for the Black and Gold on offense — after Carter Johnstone flew out to left field — on a base knock to left field. That brought Ryker Waite up to the plate, who drew a walk to put runners on first and second. After Logan Johnstone struck out looking, Johnston singled to left center, scoring Maldonado and advancing Waite. Then, a Mancini single to right center scored Waite and put runners on first and third. Holcomb then drew a walk, to load the bases with Goodin up to bat. Goodin struck out, though, spelling the end of the third inning.
Top 4: Vanderbilt 2, Marist 1
Taylor returned for a fourth inning and made the first two batters he faced, Brotz and McNelly pop up to the Waite. He then let up his fifth walk of the afternoon to Travis Church, before forcing another pop-up from Cedeno to end the inning.
Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 2, Marist 1
Vanderbilt couldn’t match the offensive success it found in the previous inning as it went three up, three down at the plate.
Top 5: Vanderbilt 2, Marist 1
Jacob Faulkner took the mound for the Black and Gold in the fifth inning, replacing Taylor, who finished with a final line of four innings pitched, one hit, one run, five walks and six strikeouts. Faulkner made quick work of the side, forcing Baer and Lincoln to ground out and striking Rivera.
Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 4, Marist 1
Marist also made a pitching change in the fifth inning, putting in left-hander Andrew Speranza in place of Mazza. Wait lined out to left field to start the inning, but Logan Johnstone got on base by drawing a walk. A double from Johnston would advance Logan Johnstone to third and then he would score on a passed ball. Mancini brought Johnston across the plate on a sac fly and Holcomb drew a walk. Goodin ended the inning with a strikeout.
Top 6: Vanderbilt 4, Marist 1
Faulkner put up another strong inning, forcing the first two batters he faced to pop up and ground out, respectively. After walking Brotz on a 3-1 count, Faulkner recovered, forcing McNelly to pop up to second base and getting out of the inning unscathed.
Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 5, Marist 1
Speranza forced Vanderbilt into two quick outs when Whitcomb struck out looking and Carter Johnstone grounded out to first base. After that though, Speranza was replaced on the mound by right hander Ryan VanDeWater who walked Maldonado. Then, Waite tripled to center field and scored Maldonado. VanDeWater was able to get out of the inning when he forced Logan Johnstone to ground out to second base
Top 7: Vanderbilt 5, Marist 1
Faulkner struck out Church swinging before adding another out when pinch hitter Chris Diaz lined out. Marist then got two runners on base when Baer singled to right center and Faulkner hit Rivera. The Commodores stranded the two runners when Lincoln grounded out.
Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 8, Marist 1
Marist made several defensive adjustments in the seventh inning, with Baer moving to center field and Dias entering at right field. VanDeWater was also replaced by right-hander Caleb Kempler. Mancini reached base on a walk and Holcomb scored him on a home run to the left-field bleachers, the junior’s fourth of the season. With two outs, Mack Whitcomb drew a walk and Carter Johnstone scored him on a double to the center-field wall. Marist made a pitching change, bringing in Chris Ubner who was able to get the Red Wolves out of the inning.
Top 8: Vanderbilt 8, Marist 1
Freshman Wyatt Nadeau took the mound for the ‘Dores, replacing Faulkner and promptly struck out the side, with the fastball topping out at 96 mph.
Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 8, Marist 1
Waite started the inning with a single to right field before being called out attempting to steal second. Johnston and Mancini both flew out to end the inning.
Top 9: Vanderbilt 8, Marist 1
Nadeau got a quick two outs, on a strikeout and ground-out to third, before making a fielding error on a chopper. The freshman recovered, though, by forcing the final batter to ground out.
Game 2
Vanderbilt Baseball (5-2) hosted Marist (0-5) at Hawkins Field for the second game of the weekend series. The Commodores continued to roll, extending their win-streak to four and gaining a 12-1 run-rule victory.
Austin Nye continued his excellent start to the season, shutting out the Red Foxes in five innings of work. He struck out six batters and walked none in this strong showing, with five of his K’s going down looking. Tyler Hartley for the Red Foxes had a difficult outing, only going one and two-thirds innings while giving up eight runs, all earned.
“He set the tone,” Corbin said of Nye’s performance today. “He came out and threw strikes, executed right away, and I think beyond that he was mature.”
Nye mentioned how “flooding the zone” fueled his success today and resulted in his shutout performance.
“Just getting ahead of the hitter as fast as possible” Nye said.
The Commodores’ offensive explosion continued today. This win marks four games in a row in which they have scored double-digit runs. Logan Johnstone and Tommy Goodin both had electric games at the plate, each recording two hits and a home run to combine for eight RBI.
Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Marist 0
Nye sat down the Red Foxes 1-2-3, striking out sophomore Noel Rivera looking. AJ Brotz hit a strong fly ball to center, but it was corralled easily by center fielder Braden Holcomb.
Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 4, Marist 0
Vanderbilt began the inning with back-to-back walks, with a sacrifice bunt from Mike Mancini moving the runners over. Braden Holcomb then hit an RBI double, followed by a long three-run home run from Goodin on an off-speed pitch. The Marist starter, Hartley, quickly retired the next two batters to finish the inning.
Top 2: Vanderbilt 4, Marist 0
The Marist hitters didn’t swing the bat this inning, as Nye struck out the side looking, retiring Marist in order.
Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 8, Marist 0
After starting the inning with a base hit and walk, Hartley gave up an RBI base hit to right fielder L. Johnstone. Brodie Johnston brought home a second run on a sacrifice fly. After another base hit and stolen base, Hartley got Holcomb to strike out with two runners in scoring position. Goodin came through with two outs, lining a two-run double into the gap, ending the outing for Hartley. Jake Burt relieved Hartley, giving up a base hit before striking out Rustan Rigdon to end the inning.
Top 3: Vanderbilt 8, Marist 0
Nye started the inning by retiring the first two batters quickly by forcing them into groundouts and only using four pitches. After a two-out triple by Marist third baseman Luke Monico, Nye ended the inning, retiring Marist’s leadoff hitter TJ Baer on a groundball to Nye himself.
Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 10, Marist 0
Freshman Corbin Reynolds led off the inning by wearing a pitch from Burt. Shortstop Ryker Waite beat out a double play and stole second, which led to the Commodores’ second home run of the day by Logan Johnstone, bringing the ‘Dores to double-digit runs. After getting a lineout for the second out, Burt gave up two more singles but ultimately escaped the inning on a slick play from shortstop Noel Rivera.
Top 4: Vanderbilt 10, Marist 0
The Red Foxes continued to struggle against Nye, with the Vanderbilt starter inducing two flyouts to center before striking out Nathan Lincoln to end the inning.
Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 10, Marist 0
Marist sophomore AJ Vargas replaced Burt. Mack Whitcomb led off the inning with an infield hit and advanced on a throwing error. Left fielder Nathan Lincoln made a diving catch on a fly ball, followed by Vargas getting his second out on a flyout to center. After a wild pitch, walk, and stolen base, Vargas stranded the two baserunners, getting Logan Johnstone to groundout to end the inning.
Top 5: Vanderbilt 10, Marist 0
Nye continued to fool batters, striking out Connor Lawrence looking to start the inning. After giving up a line drive single to left center, Nye got Chris Diaz to ground into a fielder’s choice. A shallow fly ball from Drew McGowan turned into a double for the Red Foxes, but Nye stranded the runners on second and third by getting a groundout to short to end the inning.
Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 10, Marist 0
Jason Bassett came on in relief for Vargas. Bassett induced a pop-up from Johnston before Will Hampton had a pinch-hit base knock to center. The Red Foxes then turned a double play, giving them their quickest half-inning of the game.
Top 6: Vanderbilt 10, Marist 1
Nye’s outing came to an end, with junior Brennan Seiber coming into the game at the top of the sixth. Seiber walked Baer to start the inning, which led to Baer taking second on a wild pitch. Back-to-back groundouts brought home Baer, and marked Marist’s first run of the day. Seiber then walked the next two batters on walks, Michael Mayhugh and Dylan Millman, but the pair were left stranded when he struck out pinch hitter Ayden McNelly to end the inning.
Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 12, Marist 1
Vanderbilt pinch hitter Chris Maldonado came in to face Marist’s new pitcher, junior Nick Buchman. Maldonado roped a double to left field, giving the Commodores an RBI opportunity. After a groundout, Rigdon found his way to base and brought home Maldonado. Buchman then hit Reynolds on the first pitch of the at-bat, allowing Waite to drive home another run on a base hit. Freshman Collin Brightwell struck out looking in his first collegiate at-bat and then Buchman finished the inning, inducing a groundout to third.
Top 7: Vanderbilt 12, Marist 1
Marist begins the inning with two base hits. Seiber struck out Monico to record the first out before inducing a double play to secure the run-rule victory.
Vanderbilt will be back in action on Sunday for the final game of the series against Marist, starting at 1 p.m. CST.
Game 1
Vanderbilt Baseball (3-2) welcomed Marist (0-4) to Hawkins Field for the Commodore’s first home weekend series of the season. After its convincing midweek sweep of Eastern Michigan, Vanderbilt looked to continue its hot streak into the weekend. And it did exactly that, ultimately the ‘Dores gained a 16-5 run rule victory and improved to 1-0 on the weekend.
Junior starter Connor Fennell took the mound for the Commodores and had a very strong outing. His final line came out to five innings pitched, with two earned runs, three hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. On the other side, Will Taylor started for the Red Foxes, going four and a third innings with nine earned runs.
The Commodore offense was on full display today. All nine batters reached base safely, as the VandyBoys recorded 18 hits. Logan Johnstone, Braden Holcomb, and Korbin Reynolds all hit home runs. Seven different batters drove in runs. It was a team effort throughout the game, with each player making significant contributions during the dominant victory. The fifth and eighth innings were especially impressive, with the ‘Dores plating six and seven runs, respectively.
“When you’ve seen a guy for a second time, you should be able to put swings on it like that,” Corbin said of the big innings. “And I think that’s really what it was [for us], it was the ability to see them two or three times around.”
Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Marist 1
Marist’s first two batters both reached base on errors committed by the ‘Dores, setting up runners on the corners with no outs. The runner on first was tagged out attempting to steal second base, but a late throw home allowed leadoff batter TJ Baer to score the first run of the game. Fennell worked quickly through the next two batters, ending the inning with a called strike three against cleanup hitter Nathan Lincoln.
Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 1
Taylor, a left-hander, started the inning by drawing a lineout from leadoff batter Johnstone. However, things quickly got out of hand for Marist. After a Brodie Johnston hit-by-pitch and a following series of RBI hits — including a double from junior Mack Whitcomb —Vanderbilt scored three runs.
Top 2: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 2
After striking out the leadoff batter to start the second, Fennell gave up a left-field home run to Kyle Pollack. However, the veteran starter quickly bounced back, striking out the next two batters and getting out of the inning with Vanderbilt holding a one-run lead.
Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 2
After a leadoff Reynolds flyout, Ryker Waite reached base with a groundball through the right side of the infield. Taylor walked Johnstone, but the Commodores left both runners on base.
Top 3: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 3
Fennell mirrored his start to the previous inning, striking out the leadoff man but giving up a home run to the next batter, Baer. The next two batters hit solid flyouts to end the inning.
Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 3
The Commodores went 1-2-3 at the plate, with Taylor striking out Max Jensen to end the frame.
Top 4: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 3
Lincoln led the inning off with a line-drive single to left field. Fennell worked through the next three batters with ease, adding another strikeout to his total and getting two flyouts.
Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 3
Rustan Rigdon led off for the VandyBoys with a base hit on a line to center field. After Reynolds flew out to left field, Rigdon was picked off and chased down in a pickle. Taylor walked Waite but immediately followed it up by striking out Johnstone looking.
Top 5: Vanderbilt 3, Marist 3
Fennell started the frame with a full count strikeout of catcher Drew McGowan. After reaching another 3-2 count, Fennell netted a lineout from the Marist nine hitter. With Baer’s flyout to right, Marist went 1-2-3 in the fifth as Fennell made quick work of the Red Foxes.
Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 9, Marist 3
After the first two batters set up men on first and third, Holcomb drove in both runners with a three-run home run to right. The next three batters loaded the bases through a line drive base hit, a walk, and an infield single, respectively. Reynolds struck out swinging, and Taylor was replaced by reliever Andrew Fierro, who began his outing by striking out Waite. Fierro then walked in a run and allowed a two-RBI single to Johnston. The six-run inning ended with a Mike Mancini flyout to center.
Top 6: Vanderbilt 9, Marist 5
Sophomore England Bryan entered the game for Fennell, immediately surrendering a single to center field. After the next two batters were retired, designated hitter Connor Lawrence hit a two-run home run. After a Pollack single, the Red Foxes went down with a flyout to center.
Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 9, Marist 5
The VandyBoys got started early, as the first two batters reached base with a ground-rule double and a hit-by-pitch. Pollack, the Marist first baseman, made a diving stop to retire Jensen, and the baserunners both advanced. Pollack made another clutch defensive play, stepping on the bag and throwing out the baserunner at the plate to strand both runners on base.
Top 7: Vanderbilt 9, Marist 5
McGowan led off the inning with a hard lineout directly into the shifted defense. Bryan struck out the next two batters, retiring Marist three up, three down.
Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 9, Marist 5
Reynolds reached base after getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second after a passed ball. Waite flied out to left field, and Johnstone grounded out to first base. Johnston struck out looking to end the seventh, leaving Reynolds on third.
Top 8: Vanderbilt 9, Marist 5
Shortstop Noel Rivera led off the inning with a single. Bryan ended the inning quickly after allowing the initial baserunner, striking out the next batter and getting an inning-ending double play.
Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 16, Marist 5
Mancini led off the bottom of the eighth with a well-hit lineout to center field. Holcomb built upon his already great performance with a single and immediately advanced to second on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt. Whitcomb drove in the baserunner with a line drive double to left center. After a pair of pinch runners entered the game, Rigdon drove in the runner on third with a base hit. Immediately following, Reynolds hit a three-run blast to left field. Waite singled, and Johnstone notched his first hit of the day by hitting a walk-off home run to secure the run-rule victory.
Vanderbilt will return to action on Saturday in the second game of the series against Marist at 2 p.m. CST.
