NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Top-ranked Vanderbilt embarks on its first true road test of the season, opening SEC play with a three-game series at No. 19 Texas A&M on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s middle game is set for 2 p.m. and Sunday’s finale will get underway at 1 p.m.
The Commodores (14-3) have won eight of their last nine games including an 11-6 result against Samford on Tuesday. Vanderbilt produced nine runs in the opening frame, its most in a first inning since March 17, 2010, against Western Kentucky.
The weekend set pits two of the nation’s premier pitching staffs. Vanderbilt leads the country with 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings while Texas A&M (15-4) ranks eighth with 11.4. The Aggies took 2-of-3 last weekend against Gonzaga before falling 5-4 on Tuesday at Dallas Baptist.
All three matchups will be streamed live on the SEC Network Plus with Will Johnson, Mark Johnson and Boomer White on the call. SEC Network subscribers can tune in through WatchESPN and the ESPN app. Fans can also listen to the games on the VUCommodores app and locally on WNSR 560 AM/95.9 FM.
1️⃣4️⃣ wins in the books.
Now, the show hits the road. ✈️
Friday | #VandyBoys at Texas A&M pic.twitter.com/qeYO86ZEu2
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 14, 2019
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
– FRIDAY: RHP Drake Fellows (3-0, 5.32 ERA) vs. LHP John Doxakis (3-1, 1.44 ERA)
– SATURDAY: RHP Patrick Raby (3-0, 0.87 ERA) vs. LHP Asa Lacy (4-0, 0.38 ERA)
– SUNDAY: TBA (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBA (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
NEED TO KNOW
Vanderbilt is 12-6 on SEC opening weekend since 2013. For the seventh consecutive season (2013-present), Vandy opens against an SEC West opponent. The Commodores have won eight of their last 13 and four of the last six conference opening series.
Vanderbilt and Texas A&M are meeting for a seventh consecutive season. The Aggies hold a 9-7 advantage in the series. This weekend marks the second series between the two programs in College Station (May 5-7, 2016).
Vandy has scored in the first inning in 10 of its 17 games including four of the last six. The Dores are 9-1 when scoring in the first inning.
Vanderbilt ranks first in the SEC in batting average (.328), hits (195), on-base percentage (.438) and triples (10). The Dores are second in runs (152). Vandy has scored five-plus runs 14 times and 10-plus runs eight times.
UP NEXT
Vanderbilt returns to Nashville for a crosstown matchup against Belmont at First Tennessee Park. The Commodores, who will be the visiting team, are looking to avenge an 8-5 loss to the Bruins a season ago. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
