NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Top-ranked Vanderbilt jumped on UT-Martin early using an eight-run third inning to cruise to a 16-3 victory on Tuesday night inside a chilly Hawkins Field.
The Commodores (5-2) wasted no time, scoring 11 runs in the first three frames to put the game out of reach early. The Dores’ big third inning gave the team all the runs they needed on the night with all eight runs coming with two outs. Will Toffey started the rally with a single to score Zander Wiel from second and start a string of nine straight Commodores to reach base. Jason Delay delivered a two-run single in the inning but it was Dansby Swanson’s three-run triple that did most of the damage. Vanderbilt’s eight runs in the inning are the most by the team this season with the Dores having a game-high of six runs on the young season.
Nine different Commodores recorded hits in the win led by freshman Liam Sabino’s three-hit night. Sabino singled twice, drove in a run and scored three runs to go along with a double in his final at-bat. Fellow freshman Tristan Chari picked up his first career hit in the eighth with a two-run single up the middle that capped the game’s scoring. Swanson matched his career-best with four RBI and Delay’s three RBI are the most he has driven in his career.
Hayden Stone earned the victory in his first career start going three innings. The right-hander allowed only one hit and one walk to go with two strikeouts. The right-hander worked out of a jam in the second with runners on the corners he recorded his second strikeout of the night before ending the threat with a ground ball to Swanson.
Four freshmen followed Stone into the game with Joey Abraham, Brendan Spagnuolo, Matt Ruppenthal and Collin Snider all seeing action. For Spagnuolo and Snider it was their college debut. Spagnuolo allowed two runs on six hits in two innings with Snider working a scoreless ninth to end the game.
Nico Zych led the Skyhawks with three of the team’s 10 hits, singling three times. Starter Daniel Shaw took the loss allowing seven runs, four earned, on four hits and four walks over 2.2 innings.
Vanderbilt returns to action tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. against Western Kentucky. Lefty Ryan Johnson is scheduled to make his first career start against Hilltoppers’ southpaw Ryan Thurston.
