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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nick Christiani pitched six innings of five-hit ball to help lead Vanderbilt to a 5-1 win over Western Kentucky Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
The Commodores improved to 20-10 on the season, while the Hilltoppers fell to 18-12.
Christiani struck out six and walked three in 6.1 innings of work to move to 3-1 on the year. In his last two outings, the junior from New Jersey has allowed just one run in 9.1 innings with nine strikeouts.
“I just tried to go out and throw strikes and let the defense play behind me,” said Christiani.
The Commodores took a 1-0 lead in the second when Andrew Giobbi scored on a wild pitch by Hilltopper starter Rye Davis. Dominic de la Osa’s RBI single in the third made it 2-0.
WKU scored a run in the top of the fourth on a bases loaded walk to Matt Payton.
De la Osa tripled and stole home in the fifth to put the lead back at two at 3-1. Steven Liddle added a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh to make it 4-1.
VU closed out the scoring in the eighth, plating an unearned run to extend the advantage to 5-1.
David Macias led VU with four hits, with Dominic de la Osa adding three of his own.
Drew Hayes pitched the final two innings to pick up his second save of the year. He struck out four and walked one while allowing just one hit.
Vanderbilt will be back in action Wednesday against Austin Peay at 6 p.m. The Governors played in last year’s Nashville Regional and lost to the Commodores twice. APSU fell to Tennessee 16-13 Tuesday night in Knoxville.
Western Kentucky 000 100 000 – 1 6 2
Vanderbilt 011 010 11x – 5 12 0
Davis, Teague (3), O’Connell (4), Jenney (5), Krueger (7), Paxton (7), Balcom (8) and Paxson. Christiani, Goodenow (7), Hayes (8) and Giobbi. W- Christiani 3-1, L-Davis 1-5. Sv- HR: None
