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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt senior Shea Robin hit two home runs and Dominic de la Osa became the all-time Vanderbilt hits leader as the No. 13 Commodores completed a three game sweep of Tennessee, winning 10-8 on Sunday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With his double in the seventh inning, de la Osa became the all-time hits leader at Vanderbilt with 284. De la Osa passes Karl Nonemaker, who finished his career with 283. De la Osa also became the all-time Vanderbilt leader in doubles with 62 after the double in the seventh inning.
“It feels great,” de la Osa said. “A lot of great players have played at Vanderbilt. It’s exciting. Hopefully I can keep it for a while.”
The sweep of Tennessee marks the second straight year the Commodores have swept the Volunteers and the first time Vanderbilt has swept Tennessee in Knoxville since the SEC went to three-game series in 1986.
Tennessee jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning. With one out, Kentrail Davis tripled to right field, past a diving de la Osa. Davis would score on Yan Gomes sacrifice fly to right field.
The Commodores tied the game at one in the top of the second. Robin hit his second home run of the season, an opposite field blast over the right field fence.
The Vols scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to retake the lead. Jarred Frazier was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Lima. Frazier would move to third on Andy Simunic’s single to right center. Davis cleared the bases for Tennessee with a three-run home run over the right field fence.
Vanderbilt responded with three runs of its own in the top of the fourth. De la Osa led off the inning with a double. Pedro Alvarez drove him in with a single down the right field line. Alex Feinberg advanced Alvarez to second with a single to left field. With two outs, the inning continued when Andrew Giobbi reached on an error by third baseman Cody Brown to load the bases. Alvarez trotted home when Steven Liddle walked. The Commodores tied the game when Brad French was hit by a pitch, scoring Feinberg.
Tennessee took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth on Davis’ second home run of the day. Davis sent a 1-0 pitch over the scoreboard in right center field for his 11th homer of the year.
The Commodores took their first lead of the day with three runs in the top of the seventh. De la Osa led off the inning with his record-breaking double into right center field, his second double of the day. De la Osa advanced to third on Alvarez’s third hit of the game. Flaherty drove in de la Osa with a single to right field to even the game at five. After a single by Feinberg loaded the bases, Robin grounded into a double play, scoring Alvarez and putting the Commodores on top. A walk to Giobbi put runners on the corners for Liddle. Liddle singled to left, scoring Flaherty and extending the Vanderbilt lead to 7-5.
Vanderbilt added another three runs in the top of the ninth. Robin led off the inning with his second home run of the day over the left field fence. Giobbi followed with a double down the right field line. With one out, French tripled off the center field barrier, scoring pinch runner Jonathan White. Macias drove home French with a double down the right field line.
Tennessee rallied for the third straight day with three runs in the ninth. Jeff Lockwood led off the inning with a home run over the left field wall. Brown followed with a single down the left field line and P.J. Polk hit a pinch hit two-run home run to cut the Vanderbilt lead to 10-8. The Volunteers would get a runner on first with one out, but Brett Jacobson would retire the next two batters to get his second save of the weekend and fourth of the season.
Chase Reid (4-0) picked up the victory for Vanderbilt, throwing three innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three. Danny Wiltz (3-2) picked up the loss for Tennessee in relief.
Regular Sunday starter Nick Christiani was unable to start due to tingling in his right arm. He will be evaluated in Nashville on Monday. Russell Brewer got the start for the Commodores in his place, going five innings, allowing five runs on five hits.
Vanderbilt returns to action this week with two midweek games. The Commodores will face Memphis in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Vanderbilt will play its final midweek game of the season at home on Wednesday against Tennessee Tech at 6 p.m. The Commodores host SEC leader Georgia next weekend in a three-game set at Hawkins field.
Vanderbilt 010 300 303-10 16 0
Tennessee 103 010 003-8 10 1
Brewer, Reid (6), Goodenow (9), Jacobson (9) and Robin. Harris, Wiltz (7), Crnkovich (9) and Gomes. W- Reid (4-0), L- Wiltz (3-2), Sv- Jacobson (4). HR: VU: Robin 2 (3) UT: Davis 2 (11), Lockwood (6), Polk (4)
