Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt dropped the series finale to No. 12 Florida on Saturday afternoon 20-8 at Hawkins Field.
The Gators (24-12, 8-7) jumped on the Commodores (22-15, 7-8) in the first inning and never trailed. Vandy starter Drake Fellows gave up four runs on a pair of home runs in the first inning. The right-hander failed to get out of the third when the Gators sent 13 men to the plate to score eight runs on seven hits against Fellows, Collin Snider and Paxton Stover.
The Commodores rallied for five runs in the bottom of the third. Four straight singles scored the team’s first two runs of the day with Will Toffey and Julian Infante driving in runs. Back-to-back doubles from Jason Delay and JJ Bleday capped the rally and put VU back in the game. But the Dores’ bullpen faltered down the stretch, allowing runs in each of the final five innings.
Fellows took the loss for Vanderbilt after giving up six runs, five earned, on four hits over two-plus innings. The Commodores’ bullpen struggled mightily over seven innings, allowing 14 runs on 16 hits and 10 walks.
Jeren Kendall and Ethan Paul led the way for the Commodores at the plate with three hits apiece. Delay knocked in two runs with a pair of hits with Infante chipping in two hits and two RBIs of his own. The Dores’ 17 hits matched a season-best for a single game.
Florida starter Jackson Kowar earned the win despite giving up six runs on 10 hits over five innings. Nelson Maldonado, JJ Schwarz and Mark Kolozsvary all drove in four runs for the Gators with Kolozsvary collecting three hits.
Vanderbilt returns to the road this week for four games beginning Tuesday night at Middle Tennessee and then a three-game road trip to Georgia.
