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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt pounded out a season 22 hits en route to a 14-2 win over Middle Tennessee Wednesday evening at Hawkins Field.
The Commodores improved to 24-3 overall, while MTSU fell to 13-15 on the year.
Every Vanderbilt starter had at least one hit, with Pedro Alvarez leading the way with three hits and five RBI. Dominic de la Osa, Ryan Flaherty, Alex Feinberg, Brian Harris, Brad French and David Macias each had two hits in the winning cause.
The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a RBI single by Rawley Bishop and a RBI groundout by Zach Barrett off of starter Brett Jacobson.
Vanderbilt stormed right back to take the lead with three runs in the bottom of the first. Dominic de la Osa led off with a double to right and scored on Pedro Alvarez’ mammoth homer to left to tie the game. Ryan Flaherty followed with a bunt single and stole second and third before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Giobbi to make it 3-2.
The Commodores loaded the bases in the second when Brian Harris and Brad French led off with back-to-back singles and David Macias was hit by a pitch. de la Osa and Alvarez followed with RBI groundouts to make it 5-2.
VU then blew the game open with six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fifth. Andrew Giobbi, David Macias and Pedro Alvarez had RBI doubles, while Dominic de la Osa roped a RBI triple off the Green Monster wall in left to key the inning.
Alvarez added a RBI single in the seventh as did Carter Hawkins which was also his first hit of the year.
After the shaky first, Brett Jacobson (5-1) settled down and pitched four shutout innings. His final line was five innings, two runs, a walk and five strikeouts to pick up his fifth win of the year. Stephen Shao, Josh Zeid, Cameron Betourne and Casey Weathers each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
“I wanted Brett to come out and overcome his outing against Arkansas on Sunday and I think he did that in innings two, three and four,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “He is a happy go lucky kid and we want him to relax and enjoy his time on the mound more.”
The Commodores will hit the road for the second straight weekend of SEC action against No. 1 South Carolina. The teams will battle at 6 p.m. CT on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday, with Sunday’s finale set for a 12:30 start. Fox Sports South will broadcast Saturday’s game regionally.
Middle Tennessee 200 000 000 – 2 4 3
Vanderbilt 320 061 20x -14 22 1
Copeland, Kelly (2), Coley (4), Matzanis (5), Reilley (5), Horseman (5), Tidwell (7), Brokaw (8) and Robertson, Box. Jacobson, Shao (6), Zeid (7), Betourne (8), Weathers (9) and Giobbi, Hawkins. W- Jacobson 5-1, L- Copeland 2-1. Sv- None. HR- VU: Alvarez (10).
