ATHENS, Ga. – Vanderbilt baseball dropped the series finale at Georgia on Sunday, 11-7, at Foley Field.
The Commodores totaled more hits than the Bulldogs, 10-9, but stranded nine runners on base compared to Georgia’s seven.
Alan Espinal homered, drove in two runs and walked twice while a trio of Dores recorded multi-hit performances. Jonathan Vastine, RJ Austin and JD Rogers, who made his first collegiate start, each finished with two base knocks.
Georgia loaded the bases in the bottom of the second and scored the game’s first run on a sac fly, but Vanderbilt starting pitcher JD Thompson got a strikeout to end the inning with just one run in.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases again in the bottom of the third and this time capitalized with a five-run frame on four hits and an error.
Rogers hit his first collegiate home run in the top of the fifth to put the Dores on the board. Rogers’ homer got out in a hurry, wrapping just inside the right field foul pole.
Rogers’ first homer is a rocket to right 🚀 pic.twitter.com/2xQKR90Lgm
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 5, 2024
Vandy continued to cut into Georgia’s lead in the top of the sixth. Austin singled to lead off the frame. Jack Bulger walked and Troy LaNeve was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Espinal worked a walk to bring home Austin and Camden Kozeal scored Bulger with a sac fly to make it a 6-3 game.
The Bulldogs went back up by six on a three-run homer and took a 10-3 lead on a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Espinal launched his team-leading ninth home run to lead off the top of the eighth. Kozeal doubled and scored on a two-out single by Vastine. Vastine stole second and took third on a throwing error before scoring on a double by Austin.
Espi helps trim the trees with a solo home run‼️ pic.twitter.com/Vy56h6f1Zw
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 5, 2024
The two-out rally continued with a single by Davis Diaz to left field that brought Austin home from second to bring the Dores to within three at 10-7.
Georgia got a run back in the bottom of the inning to go in front 11-7.
With Sunday’s loss, Vanderbilt falls to 32-16 overall and 11-13 in the SEC. The Commodores will return home to host Louisville at 6 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN2.
