NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore right-hander Sonny Gray struck out 10 in seven innings, leading Vanderbilt to a 7-1 win over Kent State in the second game of the Music City Classic Friday evening at Hawkins Field.
Gray (2-1) allowed one run on five hits with three walks in picking up his second win of the year. It was his first double-digit strikeout game of the year and the third of his career.
“We pitched well and played good defense,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “We turned some double plays and had some two-out hits, but that’s it. Otherwise, I thought we were very mediocre offensively.”
Aaron Westlake paced the offense with a 3-for-5 day with a double, homer and three RBI. Bryan Johns added two hits and two RBI, while Andrew Giobbi added two hits of his own.
The Dores put up a four spot in the second to take an early 4-0 lead. Andrew Giobbi led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. Mike Yastrzemski’s infield single plated Giobbi for the game’s first run. Joe Loftus singled up the middle and Yastrzemski moved to third. Loftus stole second and both runners scored on Bryan Johns single to right field. Aaron Westlake’s RBI double plated the final run in the frame.
VU added two more runs in the fourth on a RBI groundout by Westlake and a wild pitch that allowed Johns to score from third.
Westlake capped off the scoring with a homer to right-center, his second of the season, to make it 7-0.
The Golden Flashes got on the board in the eighth, scoring on a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Travis Shaw.
Richie Goodenow came on in relief of Gray in the eighth and did not allow a run of his own, while giving up just one hit with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Commodores will be back in action tomorrow at 4 p.m. against Illinois State. Junior right-hander Taylor Hill (2-0, 0.71 ERA) will take the mound for VU, while senior left-hander Ryan Copeland (0-0, 8.00 ERA) will take the hill for ISU. The Redbirds fell to Indiana, 6-4, in the opening game of the tournament Friday afternoon.
