Vanderbilt Baseball (14-12, 2-4 SEC) got back in the win column with a 15-5 victory over Tennessee Tech (9-15, 0-3 OVC) March 24. 

Every single starter registered a hit for the Commodores, with five of nine recording multiple. Overall, the team combined to go 18-for-38 from the plate with 7 extra-base hits. The performance was a departure from a lackluster weekend against Mississippi State, when the team hit .159. 

Connor Hamilton took the mound to start the game, his third start of the season. The first-year struck out four batters over 3.2 innings of work but also allowed four earned runs. The bullpen pitched a clean game behind him, only allowing one more run to score 

The game saw some shakeups positionally. Braden Holcomb played third base, shifting Brodie Johnston over to second. Rustan Rigdon also got the nod at center field. Johnston finished with one error, but the changes seemed natural otherwise. 

Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee Tech 1 

Connor Hamilton made quick work of his first batter, but the next sent one deep into right field that barely trickled over the wall to give the Golden Eagles the lead. Hamilton struck out the next batter before walking Owen Lee and Eddie Garza back-to-back. The Tennessee native ended the inning with his third strikeout. 

Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee Tech 1 

Batting first, Mike Mancini took first on balls then stole second. Brodie Johnston followed suit, walking to put runners on first and second for Braden Holcomb, but the junior batted into a double play. A pop-up by Colin Barczi ended the inning. 

Top 2: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee Tech 1 

Holcomb, playing third base, bobbled a ball off the bat of the first batter of the inning but gunned it to first for the out. A pop-up to Rustan Rigdon in center field and a grounder to Ryker Waite at shortstop brought the Commodores back up to bat. 

Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee Tech 1 

Rustan Rigdon lazered a line drive to center field for a single that advanced Logan Johnstone — who had walked the previous at-bat — to second. The duo advanced to second and third after Chris Maldonado laid down a bunt at his own expense. Waite flew out to short, but a passed ball with Korbin Reynolds in the batter’s box scored Johnstone and advanced Rigdon to third. Reynolds then drove a single over the second baseman’s head to score Rigdon. Reynolds himself got the opportunity to cross homeplate after Mancini crushed a double to deep left. A fly-out by Holcomb ended the productive inning. 

Top 3: Vanderbilt 3, Tennessee Tech 2 

The first batter of the inning fouled out, but the next two found themselves in scoring position after singling and doubling back-to-back. A sacrifice fly scored the runner on third, but the scoring stopped there. 

Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 3, Tennessee Tech 2 

Barczi, Johnstone and Maldonado all flew out to center field. Rigdon was stranded on second by Maldonado after singling and advancing on a balk. 

Top 4: Vanderbilt 3, Tennessee Tech 4 

Hamilton notched his fourth strikeout to open the fourth, but the Eagles retook the lead shortly. The next two batters reached on hits and one scored on a passed ball. A single drove in another runner, and Hamilton’s day ended after Johnstone caught a dangerous pop-up in right field. Nate Schlote walked his first batter in relief but induced a pop-up to get out of a bases-loaded jam. 

Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 6, Tennessee Tech 4 

The Commodores put up a 3-spot to pull ahead in the fourth. The first five batters combined for four extra base hits: Waite tripled, Reynolds followed suit to drive Waite in, Mancini doubled to drive Reynolds in and Holcomb followed suit to drive Mancini in. The only exception was Johnston, who flew out to left. A deep drive by Barczi fell just short and was nabbed by the center fielder. Johnstone and Rigdon both walked to load the bases, but Maldonado left the group stranded. 

Top 5: Vanderbilt 6, Tennessee Tech 5 

Schlote walked the first batter, who eventually advanced to third after a single and throwing error. The runner on third scored on a sac-fly, but Vanderbilt controlled the damage thereafter. 

Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 11, Tennessee Tech 5 

Some familiar faces crowded the base paths in the fifth. Waite ripped another extra-base hit to open the fifth, then Reynolds reached on a hit-by-pitch. Mancini went down swinging next, but a single by Johnston drove Waite home. With the bases loaded after Holcomb walked, Barczi hit a single to drive Reynolds and Johnston home. Johnstone batted in Holcomb and Rigdon batted in Barczi before Maldonado was caught stealing. 

Top 6: Vanderbilt 11, Tennessee Tech 5 

Tristan Bristow pitched a scoreless frame after coming in for Schlote. 

Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 13, Tennessee Tech 5 

Maldonado reached on a single — his first hit of the game. A second double by Waite scored Maldonado, and a single by Mancini shortly after drove in Waite. Johnston reached on a single and Barczi reached on a walk, but all were ultimately stranded. 

Top 7: Vanderbilt 13, Tennessee Tech 5 

Nate Teague took the mound for the seventh and retired the side in order. 

Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 13, Tennessee Tech 5 

Vanderbilt went three up, three down. Max Jensen took his first at-bat of the game but struck out. 

Top 8: Vanderbilt 13, Tennessee Tech 5

Mack Whitcomb took over behind the plate, getting an opportunity to play against his former team. Hudson Barton relieved Teague but was taken out after loading the bases. Tyler Baird escaped the pinch.

Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 15, Tennessee Tech 5

Cade Sears drove in a run with his first hit of the season and Johnstone walked it off the next at-bat with a single of his own.

The VandyBoys will turn their attention to Tennessee this weekend in a March 27-29 series.