Nashville, Tenn. – No. 2 Vanderbilt shut out Radford 12-0 Wednesday at Hawkins Field behind pitchers Chandler Day and Joey Abraham.
Radford (2-11) leadoff hitter Luke Wise greeted Day with a leadoff single but the freshman was not phased, striking out the side to end the inning. The right-hander worked a perfect second inning then navigated a leadoff walk to get through the third. A one-out Radford double in the fourth was quickly dispatched by a Day strikeout and diving catch in left field by fellow freshman Walker Grisanti. A double play turned by Tyler Campbell and Ethan Paul wrapped up Day’s fifth scoreless inning. The right-hander picked up his second win of the year, scattering three hits and striking out six while not allowing a runner past second base.
Joey Abraham picked up where Day left off, breezing through the Radford lineup while racking up seven strikeouts to notch his first career save. The right-hander struck out the side in the sixth and fanned at least one batter in each of the next three innings to set a new career-high. Day and Abraham combined to limit the Highlanders to just four hits in the win.
While Day and Abraham were dominating on the hill, the Vanderbilt (12-1) offense was taking care of business at the plate scoring eight runs in the first three innings. The Commodores put together a six-run, two-out rally in the third to distance themselves even further after a two-run first. Will Toffey’s walk started the trouble in the third and Alonzo Jones’ double put two runners in scoring position for Ethan Paul. The freshman singled through the right side of the infield to score both runs and kick-start the rally. Jason Delay followed with a double to give him at least one RBI in all nine of his starts this season. Grisanti came up with the bases loaded and delivered with his second hit of the game, ripping a double into the right field corner to clear the bases.
Grisanti led the way in the win in his first career start with a pair of hits and three RBI. The freshman is now 5-for-8 to start his collegiate career. Delay drove in two runs and Tyler Green added his first career home run in the eighth inning, lining a three-run shot over the left field wall.
Radford starter Austin Ross took the loss allowing seven runs on six hits in 2.2 innings of work.
The Commodores host Xavier this weekend beginning Friday at 4 p.m. on SEC Network+.
