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TEMPE, Ariz. - Vanderbilt scored two runs in the first inning and used strong pitching performances by sophomore Mike Minor and redshirt freshman Caleb Cotham to defeat two-time defending NCAA champion Oregon State 8-1 Friday afternoon at Packard Stadium.
The Commodores won in convincing fashion, banging out 11 hits and scoring eight runs while Minor held the Beavers scoreless until the sixth inning. He ended up allowing one run on five hits (two via bunt) in six innings of work with six strikeouts and no walks.
“Mike threw a lot of strikes today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “It is easy to play behind him because the pace of the game is quick. He limited their opportunities to get on base and when they did, he picked them off.”
VU jumped out to the 2-0 lead on a two-run single by shortstop Ryan Flaherty. The single extended Flaherty’s consecutive hit streak to 36 games dating back to last year.
Centerfielder David Macias doubled with two outs in the second and then scored on a RBI single by designated hitter Jonathan White to extend the lead to 3-0. Leftfielder Parker Hanks recorded the team’s first homer of the year in the fourth, a solo shot, and Flaherty added a RBI single in the fifth to make it 5-0.
Oregon State loaded the bases in the sixth with no outs, courtesy of three singles, two via bunt. Minor got shortstop Joey Wong to ground into a 4-6-3 double play that brought in the lone run of the game for the Beavers.
Vanderbilt added three more runs in the top of the ninth to close out the scoring at 8-1. Flaherty had a sacrifice fly RBI and Alex Feinberg came through with a two-out two-run single to lead the way.
Several Commodores had multi-hit days led by Ryan Flaherty with two hits and four RBI. Jonathan White came through in his role at the top of the lineup with two hits and a game high three runs scored. Parker Hanks had two hits as did rightfielder Dominic de la Osa.
“We had four two-out RBIs today,” said Corbin when asked about the offense’s performance. “Flaherty’s RBIs were huge, Jonny White getting on base was big as was Feinberg’s hit in the ninth to put it away.”
The Commodores will be back in action against host Arizona State tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. CT. The Sun Devils are the preseason No. 1 in some polls and open their season against Miami (Ohio) tonight.
Vanderbilt 210 110 003 – 8 11 1
Oregon State 000 001 000 – 1 5 3
Minor, Cotham (7) and Robin. Stutes, Robles (5), Brown (9), Sitton (9) and Ammon, Ortiz. W- Minor 1-0, L- Stutes 0-1. Sv- Cotham (1). HR: VU: Hanks (1)
