Vanderbilt Baseball (21-14, 7-6 SEC) hosted No. 16 Oklahoma (22-11, 5-8 SEC) in the second of three games at Hawkins Field. Starting on the mound for the Commodores was junior right-hander Brennan Seiber, while lefty Cameron Johnson got the nod for Oklahoma.
Head coach Tim Corbin’s squad sported their beloved white pinstripe uniforms, and the Sooners went out in all gray with red caps. Both starting pitchers struggled — as Seiber gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings pitched, while Cameron Johnson was pulled after 0.1 innings. The game started very exciting, with 13 runs, 6 hits and 8 walks coming in just the first inning. It then slowed down a bit, but Oklahoma hit two grand slams in the middle innings to tie and subsequently retake control of the game.
The Sooners failed to cushion their lead, though, and a home run by Braden Holcomb kept the Commodores close.
Top 1: Vanderbilt 0, Oklahoma 5
Oklahoma’s Jason Walk hit a left-field single to start off the game, and shortstop Jaxon Willits hit the ball to a similar spot before out-running the throw in to make it a double. With runners on second and third with no outs, Seiber walked OU’s Trey Gambill. Brendan Brock grounded a ball to second, and Walk scored, as Vanderbilt’s Mike Mancini threw out the runner at third. Third baseman Camden Johnson then belted a three-run homer to right field to clear the bases. Seiber struck out the next batter before Dasan Harris hit another double to left field. Sooner designated hitter Drew Dickerson got his squad their fifth hit and run of the inning with a single, scoring Harris. Oklahoma’s Kyle Branch struck out to end the frame.
Bottom 1: Vanderbilt 8, Oklahoma 5
Cameron Johnson walked the first two Vanderbilt batters in just 10 pitches, and the duo of Mike Mancini and Brodie Johnson stole second and third simultaneously. Barczi was then walked, leading to a quick mound visit. Holcomb struck out looking, but Cameron Johnson walked Logan Johnstone for the VandyBoys to get on the board. Oklahoma then sent out a new pitcher — the righty Xander Mercurius — who walked in another run right away. Both Ryker Waite and Korbin Reynolds were then hit by pitches for the Commodores’ third and fourth points. Rustan Rigdon then hit a double to score two more runs. Mancini flied out to left center, but Johnston brought in two more runners with a single to left. Finally, Oklahoma’s Harris made a diving catch to end the chaotic 48-minute first inning.
Top 2: Vanderbilt 8, Oklahoma 5
The second inning started much calmer, with Seibert striking out all three batters — Walk swinging, then Willits and Gambill looking.
Bottom 2: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 5
Holcomb was walked on four pitches, and Mercurius was subbed out for Trent Collier. Collier had better command than the other two pitchers, striking out Johnstone. While Chris Maldonado got walked, an Oklahoma coach was ejected from the game for comments made to the umpires. Waite then batted in Holcomb with an RBI single to right field. Reynolds and Rigdon then struck out swinging to move to the third.
Top 3: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 5
The VandyBoys’ defense continued to curb the Sooners’ momentum, as Brock flied out to right. Rigdon then made an incredible diving catch in center field to prevent a hit — the “Rooster” chants that followed sent the Vanderbilt crowd into a frenzy. Deiten LaChance stayed hot, though, getting a single after homering in the previous game. Harris was walked, but Dickerson flied out to leave two runners on base.
Bottom 3: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 5
Mancini chopped a ball right to the first baseman and Johnston grounded out to second to start the frame. Collier quickly ended it by striking out Barczi — his fourth fanned batter in two innings.
Top 4: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 9
First-year Aiden Stillman took the mound for Vanderbilt to start the fourth and struck out the first batter he saw. Maldonado then bobbled a throw after Walk bunted, ruled an E1. Corbin challenged the call, citing that it was runner interference, but lost the replay review. Walk then reached third on a Willits double to left, but Johnston quickly caught a very high pop-fly from Gambill. Stillman walked Brock to load the bases, followed by a grand slam from Camden Johnson as Theo Von, who was sitting behind home plate, made an appearance on the Jumbotron. LaChance was then walked, but Harris was struck out.
Bottom 4: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 9
Holcomb popped out to second base, but Johnstone hit a ground ball that ripped down the first base line to secure a double. Maldonado hit a ball deep to right field, but it was caught right by the wall. Johnstone, who advanced to third on the fly out, was left stranded as Waite struck out.
Top 5: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 9
Nate Taylor took over for Stillman and sent Dickerson back to the dugout swinging. Branch grounded out to the shortstop, Waite, and Walk got out on a pitcher’s pickoff at first for a much-needed short frame.
Bottom 5: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 9
Collier continued his solid outing, striking out Reynolds and subsequently throwing out Rigdon at first on a ground ball that made him spin in a circle when caught. Corbin then used his second challenge unsuccessfully as video review confirmed the out. Mancini hit a foul ball that was just left of the foul pole in left field before taking a walk on a full count. His infield-mate Johnston flied out to end the inning, though.
Top 6: Vanderbilt 9, Oklahoma 13
Johnstone got the first out of the inning, tracking down a well-hit ball from Willits in right field. Waite couldn’t quite get to Gambill’s next ball, though, which went right over the shortstop’s head for a single. Taylor walked Brock, and Camden Johnson then hit a single to right, but no runners scored as Johnstone was quick to make the throw home, continuing his great defensive inning. He couldn’t stop LaChance’s home run, though, which went over his head for the Sooners’ second grand slam of the day. To end the frame, Harris popped out, and Dickerson struck out.
Bottom 6: Vanderbilt 11, Oklahoma 13
Tommy Goodin came in for Vanderbilt to pinch-hit for Barczi and hit a ball to deep center field for a double. Following that, the Sooners made a pitching change, opting for the right-handed Nick Wesloski. Holcomb then hit a resounding shot to the student section in left field for his 12th dinger of the year. Johnstone tried to follow the trend, but was caught out just in front of the center field wall. Moldonado and Waite then quickly got out, as the VandyBoys ended the sixth down two.
Top 7: Vanderbilt 11, Oklahoma 13
Luke Guth took over on the mound for the ‘Dores, and Branch popped out to right before Walk grounded out to second. Willits then did the same, marking the end of a quick frame.
Bottom 7: Vanderbilt 11, Oklahoma 13
Following the seventh inning stretch, Reynolds grounded out, and Rigdon struck out looking. Mancini then got hit by a pitch, which was challenged by the Sooners, and the officials ruled that it was actually a foul ball. The VandyBoys’ second baseman subsequently struck out to end the inning.
Top 8: Vanderbilt 11, Oklahoma 13
Gambill led off with a single for OU, but was caught stealing second on a great throw by the catcher Reynolds. Guth then walked Brock, and an error by Maldonado on a pick-off attempt led to him advancing to second. Camden Johnson then struck out swinging, and LaChance grounded the ball to Waite for the third out.
Bottom 8: Vanderbilt 11, Oklahoma 13
Jason Bodin started the inning pitching for Oklahoma, and Johnston led off for the VandyBoys, but grounded out to third. Goodin hit a ball straight at the first baseman, LaChance. Bodin slipped on the mound during the play, leading to a mound visit from the team’s trainer, but he got up, walking Holcomb immediately afterward. Johnstone left him on base, though, fouling out to third base.
Top 9: Vanderbilt 11, Oklahoma 13
Following two scoreless innings from both sides, Oklahoma stayed cold. Harris struck out looking, and Guth got Dickerson to swing and miss on three of four pitches. Branch then popped up to second to give the VandyBoys a chance to come back from down two runs.
Bottom 9: Vanderbilt 11, Oklahoma 13
In the final hour, Maldonado got hit in the back by a Bodin breaking ball. The Sooners then subbed in Jackson Cleveland to take over their pitching, and Collin Brightwell pinch-ran for Maldonado. Waite’s ground ball resulted in a fielder’s choice getting Brightwell out at second. Carter Johnstone then pinch-hit for Reynolds, hitting a chopper to first that resulted in a double-play for an Oklahoma win.
The Commodores will play their final game in the Oklahoma series tomorrow, April 11, at 1 p.m. CDT.
