CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Ryan Flaherty hit his 11th homer of the year and Dominic de la Osa added his sixth as Vanderbilt held off Austin Peay late in a 9-8 win Tuesday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
The Commodores improved to 29-11 on the season, while Austin Peay fell to 18-21.
Ryan Flaherty’s two-run homer in the first gave the Commodores an early 2-0 lead. David Macias led off the game with a single, marking the 36th time in 40 games he has recorded a hit.
VU starter Mark Lamm had some control issues in the first walking two batters, with a hit batsmen in between with no outs. Tyler Farrar followed with a sacrifice fly RBI to left to cut the lead to 2-1. Lamm escaped without any additional damage, getting Trey Lucas to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Will Hogue tied the game for the Governors in the second with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the second. It was his fifth round-tripper of the year.
Dominic de la Osa’s three-run homer in the third put the Commodores back on top 5-2. It was his sixth homer of the year and 42nd of his career, tying him with Cam Hazen (1985-88) for fifth on the school’s all-time list.
“I am feeling more comfortable and seeing the ball a lot better,” said de la Osa. “I am just playing hard and trying to leave it all on the field.”
The Govs tied the game in the fourth courtesy of a two-run double to left-center by Daniel Baggett and a RBI single by Keegan McCamment through the legs of first baseman Andrew Giobbi.
Lamm ended up giving up four runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts in three innings of work.
The Dores took the lead back in the fifth with two runs courtesy of back-to-back bases loaded walks to Curt Casali and Jonathan White to make it 7-5.
Trey Lucas’ RBI triple in the bottom half cut the lead to 7-6 with one out. Drew Hayes was able to get out of the inning by striking out Will Hogue looking and getting Daniel Baggett to fly out to right.
The Dores plated two more runs in the sixth, scoring on RBI singles by Andrew Giobbi and Curt Casali. For the second straight inning they could have added more damage but left the bases loaded.
VU had runners at second and third with one out in the seventh, but again could not convert with a fielder’s choice groundout and strikeout. In all 14 runners were left on base on the night.
The Govs plated two runs in the seventh, the first when Tyler Farrar knocked a RBI triple to left-center, just off of the glove of centerfielder David Macias. Farrar scored on Will Hogue’s sacrifice fly to center to cut the deficit to one at 9-8.
Drew Hayes (1-0) gave up four runs on five hits in 3.1 innings of relief with six strikeouts and a walk to pick up the win.
Austin Peay had a chance to tie the score with one out in the eighth when Chad Cunningham reached on an error and Rafael Hill walked to put the tying run in scoring position. Shea Robin, who just entered the game at catcher, picked off Cunningham at second for the second out in the inning. The putout went catcher to shortstop to third to second to short. Hill then stole third, before Jacobson struck out Greg Bachman to end the inning.
“That was a big play by Shea,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. Experience allows you to complete that play. He took a step and made that guy commit to a side and then he threw the ball to a guy who has some savvy (Flaherty).”
Brett Jacobson pitched 1.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief with a walk and a strikeout.
Richie Goodenow came on in the ninth to retire Hogue and Brewer then closed it out retiring the next two batters to pick up his fifth save of the year.
Ryan Flaherty and Dominic de la Osa both had three hits on the ninth, while Andrew Giobbi chipped in with two of his own.
The Commodores will face Belmont tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Greer Stadium. Freshman right-hander Taylor Hill (4-2, 4.78 ERA) will take the mound for Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt 203 022 000 -9 13 1
Austin Peay 110 310 200 -8 7 1
Lamm, Hayes (4), Jacobson (7), Goodenow (9), Brewer (9) and Casali, Robin. Harper, Hughes (4), Brisbin (6) and Lucas. W- Hayes 1-0, L- Hughes 0-2. Sv- Brewer (5). HR: VU: Flaherty (11), de la Osa (6). APSU: Hogue (5)
