NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman infielder Anthony Gomez’ RBI single in the bottom of the 11th lifted Vanderbilt to a 6-5 win over Indiana in the final game of the Music City Classic Sunday evening at Hawkins Field.
Connor Harrell reached on a bunt single to third to leadoff the 11th. He then stole second and advanced to third on Riley Reynolds grounder to the right side. Joe Loftus grounded out to short for the second out in the frame, before Gomez’ sharp single through the right side off of Indiana closer Chris Squires (0-1).
“Anthony (Gomez) came up big three times tonight in three at-bats,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “He had some clutch RBIs and jumped on some high fastballs and put them into play.”
The Commodores (10-1) had to battle through adversity throughout the game, losing their No. 3 and No. 4 hitters Aaron Westlake and Curt Casali to injury early in the game. They were forced to bring shortstop Brian Harris off the bench as he was still recovering from an illness that kept him out of Saturday’s game. In all VU stranded 16 base runners in the contest.
“We had the bases loaded three times with one out and couldn’t pick up a run,” said Corbin when asked about the missed opportunities. “Everyone’s been there before, it happens, we just pressed too much. We hit too many balls in the air after the sixth inning and didn’t put much pressure on them.”
Chase Reid (2-0) pitched 3.2 innings of three-hit scoreless relief with five strikeouts and picked up his second win of the week.
“I thought Gio (Andrew Giobbi) did a great job of calling pitches, while also cutting down two base runners,” said Reid after the game. “We will put everything together and then hopefully start to click on all phases heading into SEC play.”
The Hoosiers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, courtesy of a three-run homer to right-center by Alex Dickerson.
VU scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first when Bryan Johns walked, stole second and tagged up to third on a fly ball to center. The relay throw to get him at third sailed wide allowing him to score.
The Dores tied the game in the bottom of the second on RBI singles by Joe Loftus and Anthony Gomez. Andrew Giobbi walked to lead off the frame, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Riley Reynolds walked and Loftus singled through the right side to score Giobbi. Gomez then lined a first pitch offering from IU starter Ethan Wilson right up the middle to score Reynolds and tie the game.
Armstrong allowed the three-run homer in the first but settled down to pitch three and two-thirds inning of scoreless baseball afterwards. He gave up three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings with five strikeouts and just one walk.
The Hoosiers retook the lead in the sixth, scoring two runs with two outs in the frame. Reliever Corey Williams hit shortstop Michael Basil on a 2-2 pitch to start the two-out rally. Basil then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Tyler Rogers single to right on a 1-2 count. Drew Hayes replaced Williams and gave up a single to Wes Wilson and a RBI double to Micah Johnson to make it 5-3.
VU rallied back with a run in both the sixth and seventh to tie the game at 5-5. Riley Reynolds started the comeback in the sixth with a one-out single to left. He advanced to second and third on wild pitches and scored on Anthony Gomez’ single to right.
The Dores tied the game in the seventh when Jason Esposito doubled down the left field line, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a RBI single by Andrew Giobbi. VU had a chance to take the lead, loading the bases with one out but failed to plate the go-ahead run as Reynolds grounded out to third and Loftus flied out to center.
The Dores had another chance to win the game in the 11th, loading the bases with one out, but Brian Harris popped up to the pitcher and Andrew Giobbi lined out to center to end threat.
Richie Goodenow also fared well in relief, pitching 1.1 innings of spotless relief with three strikeouts.
Gomez led the Dores with three hits and three RBI with Jason Esposito and Riley Reynolds chipping in with two each.
The Commodores will continue their nine-game homestand on Wednesday against Tennessee-Martin at 4 p.m. VU will then host Ohio in a three-game set next weekend in the final non-conference series before Southeastern Conference play.
