NASHVILLE, Tenn. – San Diego rallied for six runs in the third inning Sunday then held off Vanderbilt to claim the series with a 9-7 win at Hawkins Field.
The Toreros (13-4) sent 11 batters to the plate in the team’s six-run third inning that put San Diego up 8-1. After striking out the leadoff batter to start the frame Commodores’ starter Sam Selman (0-3) pitched himself into trouble with a walk and a hit batter before facing San Diego’s Dillon Haupt, who made Selman pay with a three-run homer over the left field scoreboard. A single and another walk chased Selman from the game with the Dores turning to Tyler Beede with two men aboard. Beede was greeted by a two-run double down the right field line by Austin Baily, who eventually scored on a safety squeeze bunt to cap the rally.
Vanderbilt (5-10) waited until the fourth inning to begin a comeback scratching out a run on Vince Conde’s groundout that scored Conrad Gregor, who led off the inning with a double. The Commodores pounded out four hits and scored four runs in the fifth to close the gap to two runs. Connor Harrell opened the frame with a single and came around to score on Anthony Gomez’s base hit. Mike Yastrzemski kept the line moving with his own RBI-single before a two-out, two-run single from Gregor capped the rally. Conde blasted his first collegiate home run to lead off the sixth inning but that was the last run the Commodores would score. Toreros’ closer Michael Wagner pitched the final three innings without allowing a base runner to notch his ninth save of the season and clinch the series.
Gregor led the way for the Dores going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Conde contributed two RBI and Yastrzemski added two hits to bring his weekend total to seven. Tony Kemp’s 11-game hitting streak was snapped with the leadoff man going 0-for-3 with two walks and one run scored. Kris Bryant paced the Toreros with three hits while Haupt chipped in two hits and three RBI.
San Diego reliever James Pazos (4-1) picked up the win in relief working two innings and allowing two runs on three hits. Selman was pinned with the loss, allowing seven runs on five hits and four walks in 2.1 innings of work. Beede pitched three innings allowing one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Will Clinard pitched the final three innings for Vanderbilt giving up one run on three hits. Four Vanderbilt pitchers combined to walk a season-high seven batters. Toreros starter and former Milwaukee Brewers’ first round pick Dylan Covey was tagged for five runs on seven hits over four-plus innings.
Vanderbilt returns to action Tuesday to begin a two-game series with Siena. The Commodores and Saints are scheduled to play both games at 4 p.m. The Dores open Southeastern Conference play next weekend at top-ranked Florida.
