NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt scored nine runs in the first two innings and the trio of Chase Reid, Will Clinard and Sam Selman limited Tennessee Tech to just an unearned run on six hits in a 10-1 win Tuesday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
Brian Harris led off the game with a homer down the left field line, opening the floodgates for the Commodore offense. Bryan Johns and Aaron Westlake followed with singles and Curt Casali was hit to load the bases. Jason Esposito had a sacrifice fly RBI and Connor Harrell had a two-run single to make it 4-0.
Harris led off the second with a single, Johns doubled to left and Westlake was hit to load the bases for the second straight inning. Casali singled up the middle to score two and Esposito added a RBI single through the right side to make it 7-0. Harrell capped things off with a two-run double to extend the lead to 9-0.
“The story of the game was the first two innings when we got our first four runners on base and then made some things happen,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin.
Tech scored its lone run in the third, taking advantage of a fielding error by Esposito on a slow roller underneath his legs with two outs in the inning.
Casali’s solo homer in he sixth, his second of the year, pushed the advantage to 10-1.
Chase Reid (1-0) allowed one run, unearned, on four hits in 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and a walk. He was credited with the win as he was on a predetermined pitch count.
Will Clinard came on in the fifth and pitched 3.1 innings of one-hit relief with three strikeouts.
Sam Selman closed things out with a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts.
“We didn’t get to three ball counts very often tonight,” said Corbin. “I think Chase (Reid) only got to three ball counts three times and Will (Clinard) got their one time so I think the efficiency and how quick they were pitching kept the game moving. Our pitchers tonight didn’t pitch like it was an eight or nine run game, they kind of threw like it was a 0-0 game and that was impressive.”
Brian Harris led the Commodores with three hits, while Harrell and Casali added four and three RBI respectively. Bryan Johns added two hits and currently leads the team with a .500 batting average.
The Commodores will be back in action this weekend in the Music City Classic. VU will host Kent State, Illinois State and Indiana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Hawkins Field. Indiana will face Illinois State on Friday at Noon and Vanderbilt and Kent State will follow at 4 p.m.
