Game 3: Vanderbilt 16, Tennessee 15

Vanderbilt Baseball (16-12) played No. 21 Tennessee (18-9) on Sunday seeking its first sweep over the Volunteers since 2013. After a dramatic 10-inning game on Friday and record breaking 16-inning game on Saturday, Vanderbilt came into this game with a weaker bullpen.  

Alex Kranzler took the mound to start for Vanderbilt today, while Evan Blanco got the starting job for Tennessee. Kranzler continued his struggles on the mound, only lasting two innings with three earned runs given up and six runs total given up. Pitching struggles plagued both teams on Sunday, in stark comparison to Saturday’s pitching duel.  

Both Vanderbilt and Tennessee exchanged runs throughout the game. But no hit was more important than Tommy Goodin’s walk-off grand slam to win the game for Vanderbilt after entering the ninth inning down five runs.  

“I knew he [the pitcher] was struggling and was trying to locate any strikes. So I knew the one pitch that I was going to get was going to be a pitch he was trying to get over the plate,” Goodin said postgame. 

Vanderbilt completed a series sweep of Tennessee on Sunday and now has a winning record in SEC play, thanks to their late heroics today. 

“It’s like a fight where you’re in the third round, you know you’re losing, and you’ve got to knock them out if you want to win it. That’s where we were in the sixth and seventh innings, but we finally connected near the end,” head coach Tim Corbin said postgame.  

Vanderbilt will carry their four-game winning streak into Tuesday, where it faces Belmont on March 31 at Hawkins Field at 6 p.m. CDT. 

Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 1 

Kranzler quickly got Garrett Wright, Tennessee’s leadoff hitter, to ground out before walking Blaine Brown in four pitches. However, Kranzler then struck out Henry Ford before giving up a line-drive single to Blake Grimmer. Reese Chapman fell behind with a 0-2 count before working towards a full count and an eventual RBI single into right field. Kranzler eventually closed out the inning by striking out Manny Marin, but the Commodores were down early. 

Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 4, Tennessee 1 

Tennessee starting pitcher Evan Blanco immediately started off strong by retiring the first two batters of Vanderbilt’s batting order. However, things quickly spiraled when Brodie Johnston hit a home run to center field, and Braden Holcomb hit a line-drive double to left field. Blanco then gave up a walk to Logan Johnstone before Rustan Rigdon went deep for a three-run home run to left field. Chris Maldonado struck out to end the inning for Vanderbilt. 

Top 2: Vanderbilt 4, Tennessee 4 

After a rocky first inning, Kranzler settled in with a quick pop out and fly out before Tennessee’s ninth hitter, Levi Clark, beat a throw and was called safe at 1st. After an unsuccessful challenge by Vanderbilt on the safe call, Wright was hit by a pitch, and Brown hit a three-run home run to left field to tie the game. Grimmer struck out to end the inning. 

Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 4, Tennessee 4 

Blanco quickly got through the second with a 1-2-3 inning. 

Top 3: Vanderbilt 4, Tennessee 6 

Kranzler gave up a leadoff double to Chapman before Marin hit a single to put runners on first and third for Stone Lawless, who was hit by an 89-mph ball in the face. With the bases loaded, Kranzler was replaced by Jacob Faulkner. Tyler Myatt then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in a run before Levi Clark brought in a run with an RBI-single. A double play ended the inning. 

Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 9, Tennessee 6 

A dropped pop-up at third base allowed Colin Barczi to get to second base. Johnston then grounded out before Holcomb hit a ground ball that could not be thrown to first in time. With runners on first and third, Johnstone hit an RBI single into center field. Rustan Rigdon then hit a ground ball to the shortstop and beat the throw to load the bases. Chris Maldonado followed with a two-RBI single before Waite hit a sacrifice bunt to add to Vanderbilt’s lead. Korbin Reynolds then hit a two-run RBI single to clear the bases. Mike Mancini flied out to center to end the inning. 

Top 4: Vanderbilt 9, Tennessee 9 

Faulkner took the mound again and immediately gave up a leadoff double to Brown. However, Faulkner struck out Ford before Grimmer hit a single into right field. Chapman followed with a line drive RBI single hit down the right field line. Marin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Trent Grindlinger then took the plate and tied the game up with a two-RBI single. Faulkner walked Myatt, before Clark and Wright struck out, but Volunteers had tied the game up. 

Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 9 

Nic Abraham took the mound for Tennessee and hit Barczi before Johnston hit a single up the middle. Holcomb then hit a ground ball that was fielded for an out at second. Johnstone then hit a groundout that brought in a run and gave Vanderbilt the lead. Rigdon grounded out to end the inning.   

Top 5: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

Nate Teague was called in from the bullpen and gave up a leadoff single to Brown to start the inning. Teague then walked Ford and Grimmer, before Chapman hit a line drive caught by Rigdon. Teague then walked Marin, which brought in a run for Tennessee. With the bases loaded, Corbin brought in Jakob Schultz to pitch. Grindlinger then hit a two-RBI single to widen Tennessee’s lead. Myatt struck out, and Clark grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning. 

Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

Abraham went 1-2-3 with the bottom of the order for a quick ending to the inning.  

Top 6: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

Schultz came back on the mound facing the top of the order. He gave up a bunt to Wright before Brown grounded into a fielder’s choice that was thrown to second for the first out. Ford popped out, and Grimmer grounded out to second, leaving Tennessee scoreless for this inning.  

Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

A leadoff walk from Mancini started the inning for Vanderbilt before Barczi lined out to the shortstop. Johnston then struck out followed by Holcomb who hit a line drive single to right field. However, Johnstone flied out to end the inning to leave two runners stranded. 

Top 7: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

Schultz gave up a leadoff walk to start the inning, then Marin grounded into a fielder’s choice at second. Grindlinger hit a ground ball and was tagged out by the pitcher before Schultz struck out Myatt to continue his scoreless outing.  

Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

Abraham entered his fourth inning by getting Rigdon to fly out deep to left. Jensen then struck out, and Waite grounded out for a 1-2-3 inning.  

Top 8: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

Schultz continued to pitch well with a 1-2-3 inning. 

Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 12 

Reynolds, Mancini, and Barczi all grounded out for a quick inning. 

Top 9: Vanderbilt 10, Tennessee 15 

Brennan Seiber came into the ninth to pitch for Vanderbilt and struck out Ford to start the inning. After Grimmer and Chapman both walked, Marin hit an RBI single to left field that brought in Grimmer for a run. Grindlinger then hit an RBI double, and while Vanderbilt tried to get a runner out at third, they threw the ball into the dugout, scoring an additional Tennessee run. Myatt grounded out, and Wyatt popped out to end the inning. 

Bottom 9: Vanderbilt 16, Tennessee 15 

Johnston hit a single up the middle to start the ninth for Vanderbilt before Holcomb hit into a fielder’s choice for an out at second. Then both Johnstone and Rigdon followed with a walk. Tennessee then changed pitchers, bringing Mark Hindy to the mound. Mack Whitcomb then hit a two-RBI double. Brayden Krenzel then came in to pitch for Tennessee and hit Ryker Waite, which loaded the bases. Tommy Goodin then came in as a pinch hitter and hit a walk-off grand slam to win the game for Vanderbilt. 

Game 2: Vanderbilt 6, Tennessee 5

Vanderbilt (15-12) hosted No. 21 Tennessee (18-8) for the second game of the weekend series. After Logan Johnstone’s extra-inning walkoff the previous night, the Commodores looked to secure the series victory over their in-state rival. In a 16-inning bullpen thriller, tied for the program’s third longest game ever, Vanderbilt came out on top.  

The Commodore offense came alive in the fourth inning, putting five runs on the board. A pair of two-run home runs from Ryker Waite and Mike Mancini capped off the Commodores’ offensive outburst. In a wild 16th inning, Vanderbilt pulled off a double steal to set up Mack Whitcomb’s game-winning squeeze bunt, notching a remarkable win in program history. 

“You’ve got to be aggressive—at this point, what have you got to lose?” Coach Corbin explained when asked about his double-steal decision.  

Wyatt Nadeau got the start for Vanderbilt. He was dominant through his first five innings, going hitless and scoreless with seven strikeouts, but allowed five runs in an explosive sixth for Tennessee, including a game-tying three-run home run. Freshman Tyler Baird entered the game in the seventh inning and pitched five shutout innings in a stellar relief appearance, his best performance of the season.  

“Just to go out there and lay my heart out on the field is ultimately what you want to do,” Baird said. “It went in our favor today.”  

Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

After striking out designated hitter Blake Grimmer to start the game, Nadeau got a groundout and a strikeout to record a quick 1-2-3 inning.  

Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Sophomore Landon Mack started his day on the mound for Tennessee by striking out Mike Mancini. Colin Barczi followed up with a groundball single through the middle of the infield. After a Brodie Johnston strikeout, Braden Holcomb lined a two-out single to left to put Barczi in scoring position. With runners on first and third, Logan Johnstone struck out, unable to capitalize early. 

Top 2: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Nadeau netted a lazy flyout from left fielder Blaine Brown to start the inning, following suit with a ground out to quickly record two outs. Nadeau forced a pop-up from catcher Stone Lawless to set down the Volunteers in order for a second consecutive frame.  

Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Rigdon started off the inning with a groundout to second base. Chris Maldonado recorded the with a groundout to third. Mack struck out Ryker Waite to end the inning. 

Top 3: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Nadeau struck out second baseman Tyler Myatt to start the inning but issued a four-pitch walk to the next batter. However, a ground ball during the next at-bat resulted in an inning-ending double play as Nadeau continued his hot start. 

Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Korbin Reynolds led off the bottom of the inning with a hit by a pitch, followed by two strikeouts by Mancini and Barczi. With two outs, Johnston hit a bloop single into left field to put Reynolds in scoring position. Holcomb worked a full count but struck out swinging to strand the baserunners.  

Top 4: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Nadeau continued his dominant start by striking out Grimmer to lead off the inning. After another strikeout, Henry Ford reached base due to a fielding error by Holcomb at third base. Nadeau struck out the next batter to end the side.  

Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 0 

The Commodore offense came alive in this frame. After Johnstone grounded out, Rigdon reached on a throwing error from the second baseman. Maldanado singled to right, and another fielding error allowed Rigdon to score Vanderbilt’s first run of the game. Ryker Waite followed that up with a deep home run to right field. Reynolds continued the rally with a double. Mike Mancini broke the game open with a home run down the left field line to score another two runs. Barczi struck out, and Johnston popped out to end the inning. 

Top 5: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 0 

Nadeau struck out Reese Chapman to start the inning and forced two groundouts from the next two batters to record another clean frame, building upon his impressive outing.  

Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 0  

Mack bounced back in the fifth, starting off by forcing an easy flyout from Holcomb. After a Johnstone single through the right side of the infield, a strikeout and popout quickly ended the inning.  

Top 6: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Tennessee first basemen Levi Clark reached base after taking a fastball off the leg to start the inning. Garret Wright recorded the Volunteers’ first hit of the day, and an error by Mancini in left allowed the runners to advance to second and third base. Grimmer drove in both with a line-drive single to right, scoring Tennessee’s first runs of the day. Manny Marin scorched a ground ball to left for a single, and Ford crushed a three-run home run to left to tie the game. Nadeau stopped the damage there, setting down the next three batters to end the side. 

Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 
Left handed reliever Cam Appenzeller took the mound for Tennessee in the sixth, starting the frame by forcing a groundout to shortstop. After a Reynolds strikeout, Mancini hit a line drive single off the right field wall but was thrown out trying to stretch a double.  

Top 7: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Baird entered for the Commodores, allowing a base hit from Tyler Myatt. Baird netted a pair of groundouts to turn a double play and end the inning as he easily worked through the bottom of the Tennessee order.  

Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Appenzeller started the inning with a Barczi groundout to third base. Johnston hit a fly ball deep in the right-center gap, but center fielder Garrett Wright made an outstanding diving catch to prevent an extra base hit. Holcomb grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.  

Top 8: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Baird had a strong inning, walking one but striking out the side to keep the game tied late.  

Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5

Johnstone grounded out to second to start the bottom of the inning. Rigdon hit a flyout to shallow left-center field. Appenzeller ended the inning with a routine Maldanado flyout to right.  

Top 9: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Baird pitched again in the ninth, allowing a Lawless single yet stranding him with a pair of flyouts. 

Bottom 9: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Appenzeller remained in the game, striking out Waite to start the inning. Reynolds lined a single to left, and Mancini hit a ground ball up the middle to put runners on first and second. Mack Whitcomb entered the game as a pinch runner for Reynolds. Barczi hit a shallow flyout to center. Johnston ended the inning with a popout in foul territory, sending the game to extra innings.  

Top 10: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Baird began his fourth inning on the mound by forcing a flyout to right field. He struck out Grimmer and forced a popout from Marin to record another clean frame in an excellent relief appearance.  

Bottom 10: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Appenzeller began the inning by forcing a Holcomb groundout into the shift. Two quick flyouts from Johnstone and Rigdon ended the inning for the Commodores. 

Top 11: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Baird took the mound again for Vanderbilt, netting a Henry Ford flyout to retire his sixth straight batter. Brown grounded out first, and Chapman walked. Lawless hit a high flyout to right to end the top of the inning, ending Baird’s outstanding day.  

Bottom 11: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Appenzeller started the eleventh by striking out Maldanado. Waite ripped a double to right field to set up a scoring opportunity for Vanderbilt. Appenzeller responded with a strikeout and a groundout to cap off his great relief appearance.  

Top 12: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Nate Schlote toed the rubber in the 12th, striking out Jay Abernathy to start his outing. Clark hit a flyout to Rigdon in center, and Wright reached base via hit-by-pitch. Grimmer hit a weak, flared one-hopper to second to record the third out.  

Bottom 12: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Junior Bo Rhudy took the mound for the Volunteers in the bottom of the 12th. Barczi led off the inning with a shallow popout to right field. Johnston hit a high flyout to right, and Holcomb struck out to send the game to the 13th inning as the Commodores went down in order.  

Top 13: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Schlote began the 13th by grazing Marin with a pitch. Ford flew out to center, and a wild pitch allowed Marin to advance to second. Brown popped out behind the plate, and Schlote intentionally walked Chapman to set up a force out at any base. Lawless grounded out to second base in yet another scoreless frame for the Volunteers. 

Bottom 13: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Johnstone led off with a strikeout looking for the Commodores. Rigdon flew out to left field, and Maldanado grounded out to end the inning.  

Top 14: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Schlote took the bump again in the 14th, netting a flyout from Abernathy. Clark struck out looking, and Wright reached base on an infield hit off a diving Ryker Waite’s glove. Schlote threw a wild pitch which advanced Wright, and then intentionally walked Grimmer. Schlote escaped the jam by striking out Marin looking, sending the Commodores up to bat.  

Bottom 14: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Rhudy started the inning with a couple of flyouts from the bottom of the Vanderbilt lineup. Mancini worked a long at bat but ultimately flew out to left field, ending the inning. 

Top 15: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Junior Luke Guth took the mound for Vanderbilt in the 15th inning, striking out Ford in three pitches. Brown drew a five-pitch walk, and Chapman advanced him to third with a lined single to the right field gap. Lawless attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Brown was held at third, and Lawless was thrown out at first. Abernathy grounded out shortstop to end the inning and strand the runners in scoring position.  

Bottom 15: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Junior Brady Frederick took over for Bo Rhudy on the mount in the 15th inning. Barczi hit a leadoff single, putting the winning run on first. Collin Brightwell entered the game as a pinch runner. Johnston popped out to shortstop on the first pitch of his at-bat. Brightwell attempted to steal second but was easily thrown out. Holcomb struck out to end the inning. 

Top 16: Vanderbilt 5, Tennessee 5 

Nate Taylor entered for Vanderbilt in the 16th, immediately striking out Clark. Wright singled through the left side of the infield and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Although Grimmer grinded a long at bat, Taylor got him to chase a high fastball out of the zone. After another wild pitch, Wright advanced to third. With a full count, and a runner just ninety feet away from home plate, Taylor struck out Marin to end the side.  

Bottom 16: Vanderbilt , Tennessee 5 

Frederick induced a flyout to left field from Johnstone to start the inning. Rigdon walked in five pitches, putting the winning run on base for Vanderbilt. Max Jensen pinch hit for Maldanado and drew a walk. Frederick was pulled from the game, replaced by Brayden Krenzel. Vanderbilt pulled off a successful double steal to set up runners in scoring position with no outs. Tennessee intentionally walked Waite to load the bases as Whitcomb came to the plate. Whitcomb placed a textbook bunt, scoring Rigdon, walking off a historic game for the Commodores. 

Game 1: Vanderbilt 3, Tennessee 2

Vanderbilt returned to action against No. 21 Tennessee for its third SEC series of the season on March 27. Junior Connor Fennell took the mound in Game 1, striking out nine across seven and a third innings of work, while only giving up two runs. Even more impressive was Fennell’s ability to keep the Volunteers off the bases, only giving up five baserunners over his outing.  

“They’re a team that attacks early,” said Fennell. “There were a couple times where first pitch outs second pitch outs helped get [me] deep in the ballgame.” 

In his first start this season, Tennessee starter Brandon Arvidson pitched well, giving up two runs and striking out seven over five solid innings. 

Logan Johnstone was the hero today, though, walking off the game with a liner into left-center. Sophomore Ryker Waite also had a nice day today, going two for four with a double and run, while also making a great diving play at shortstop.  

“In baseball, you get a chance to redeem yourself,” remarked Coach Corbin on Johnstone’s walk-off hit. 

Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0  

Fennell worked a quick first inning against the Volunteers, getting both Blake Grimmer and Blaine Brown to ground out, while Henry Ford hit a deep flyout to right.  

Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0  

The ‘Dores went down in order, as Arvidson worked a quick inning with one strikeout. 

Top 2: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

After a strikeout and fly out to center, Tennessee center fielder Garrett Wright stole second after getting hit by a pitch, but was stranded after Fennell struck out Tennessee shortstop Manny Marin to end the inning.  

Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Logan Johnstone hit a one-out infield single after a strikeout by Braden Holcomb. Rustan Rigdon popped out on the first pitch, followed by Johnstone getting thrown out by catcher Stone Lawless, trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt. 

Top 3: Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 

Vanderbilt’s defense was on display this inning, as first baseman Chris Maldonado made a nice stop at first before Ryker Waite made a diving play to get hitter Levi Clark out at first. Fennell ended the inning with a strikeout of Ford after giving up a two-out walk to Grimmer. 

Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 1, Tennessee 0 

Maldonado started the inning with a high and deep flyout to left field. Ryker Waite collected the game’s first extra-base hit on a double down the left field line. After a strikeout, followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases, Brodie Johnston hit a high chopper to short for an infield single for the games first run. Holcomb then struck out to end the inning. 

Top 4: Vanderbilt 1, Tennessee 0 

Connor Fennell had a quick inning after the Commodores broke open the scoring, striking out two batters for a 1-2-3 inning. 

Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 1, Tennessee 0 

Arvidson struck out two in this inning, setting down the Vanderbilt hitters quickly. 

Top 5: Vanderbilt 1, Tennessee 0 

The Volunteers continued to struggle to hit against Fennell, as he made short work of them this inning while recording another strikeout. 

Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 0 

After Volunteers right fielder Reese Chapman made a nice play on a line drive from Waite, he could only watch as Korbin Reynolds crushed an opposite field homer over his head. Arvidson was able to limit damage afterwards by retiring the next two batters.  

Top 6: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 1 

Fennell started the inning by striking out Clark. Fennell then faced his first trouble of the game, with Grimmer roping a double out to right, followed by a single by Ford to bring runners to first and third with one out. While Ford was caught in a pickle trying to steal second, Grimmer was able to advance home to score the Volunteers’ first run. Fennell finished the inning by recording his eighth strikeout of the game. 

Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 1 

Arvidson’s day ended here, as Tegan Kuhns was brought out to work the sixth. After back-to-back hits from Johnston and Holcomb, Kuhns struck out the next two batters with the runners on first and second. Holcomb was then thrown out by Stone Lawless trying to steal second on a double steal, ending the inning.

Top 7: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 1 

Fennell pitched a quick inning, getting two quick outs before recording his ninth and final strikeout to close the inning. 

Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 1 

Tegan Kuhns came out for a second inning of work and got Maldonado to ground out before Waite drove a line drive into right field for a base hit. Kuhns struck out Reynolds and walked Mancini to bring up Barczi with two outs and two on. After Waite stole third, Barczi flew out to center to end the inning. 

Top 8: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 2 

Connor Fennell, in his eighth inning of work, gave up a leadoff hit to Martin. A throwing error on the pickoff by Fennell and bunt from Tennessee pinch hitter Jay Abernathy put Martin on third with one out. Fennell was relieved here by Luke Guth. Levi Clark lined a base hit into left field to tie the ballgame. After a wild pitch and walk from Guth, he was pulled for Brennan Seiber. Seiber, after a battle with Ford, ended the inning with a 6-3 double play. 

Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 2 

Brodie Johnston led off the inning with an infield hit, initially being called out before a successful challenge from Vanderbilt. Holcomb drove a ball deep to center field, but center fielder Garrett Wright made a nice play for the first out. Johnstone struck out for the second out, before Kuhns escaped the eighth with Rigdon hitting a high popout to short. 

Top 9: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 2 

Seiber worked a fast ninth, striking out Chapman and getting two groundouts to send the game tied into the bottom of the ninth.  

Bottom 9: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 2 

Pinch hitter Tommy Goodin and Ryker Waite struck out back-to-back, before Reynolds grounded out to short, forcing extra innings at Hawkins Field. 

Top 10: Vanderbilt 2, Tennessee 2 

Seiber started the inning by hitting Wright. Marin ripped a liner to center, but it was caught to remove the threat. Reynolds caught Wright trying to steal second for the second out. A two-out walk by Abernathy and base hit from Clark put runners on first and third, but Seiber escaped the Jam by striking out Grimmer. 

Bottom 10: Vanderbilt 3, Tennessee 2 

Mancini grounded out to second to begin the inning. Barczi was hit by a pitch before a Johnston base hit brought the winning run into scoring position. After a Holcomb strikeout, Tennessee went to lefty Mark Hindy to face Johnstone. Johnstone came in clutch, delivering a line drive base hit to walk off the Vanderbilt victory. 

Vanderbilt will return to action on Saturday in the second game of the series against Tennessee at 1 p.m. CDT.