NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt scored five runs in the first inning and never trailed en route to an 11-3 series-opening win Friday night at a sold out Hawkins Field.
After the Tigers scored a run in the top of the first, the Commodores sent 11 men to the plate scoring five runs on five singles, two walks and a hit batter. The Dores broke the game open in the fourth tacking on three more runs with Mike Yastrzemski’s two-run double and Curt Casali’s RBI-single. Jason Esposito’s two-run triple in the seventh capped the night’s scoring and set the final score. Seven different Commodores had at least one hit and six had at least one RBI. Casali led all players with three hits and Yastrzemski added three RBI in the win. LSU star Mikie Mahtook went 1-for-4 in the loss.
VU starter Sonny Gray earned his eighth win of the year giving up three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts over seven innings. Freshman T.J. Pecoraro finished the game for Vandy striking out four in the final two innings. LSU starter Kurt McCune was pegged with the loss allowing eight runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work.
Fourth-ranked Vanderbilt hosts the Tigers tomorrow afternoon with first pitch slated for 2:30 p.m. on FSN. The Commodores send lefty Grayson Garvin to the hill to face freshman Kevin Gausman for LSU.
