Feb. 25, 2016
VANDERBILT RE-VUThe Commodores toppled Eastern Illinois 9-1 on Wednesday. Patrick Raby carried a no hitter into the seventh inning before allowing an infield single with one out, striking out 11 in his first career start and win. Vanderbilt won a rain-shortened, five inning game against UT Martin Tuesday 11-6. Chandler Day picked up the win in his collegiate debut with four innings of work and six strikeouts. The Commodores swept the series against San Diego in a big way on Sunday with a 17-1 win. Alonzo Jones hit his first career home run as part of a three-hit, five RBI performance with Jeren Kendall hitting his third homer of the weekend in the win. Vanderbilt clinched the series with a 13-6 win on Saturday. Kyle Smith and Jeren Kendall had three hits each with Smith launching a two-run homer. The Commodores opened the 2016 season with a bang and an 8-4 win over San Diego. Jeren Kendall belted a pair of home runs as part of a four-hit game with five RBI.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, Feb. 26
RHP Jordan Sheffield (1-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Jake Dahlberg (0-1, 12.00)
Saturday, Feb. 27
LHP Ben Bowden (0-0, 9.00) vs. RHP Ian Lewandowski (1-0, 6.43)
Sunday, Feb. 28
RHP Kyle Wright (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Mitchell Schulewitz (1-0, 14.54)
THE INCREDIBLE MR. KENDALL
Jeren Kendall earned National and Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors for his work over the weekend in helping No. 3 Vanderbilt sweep San Diego on opening weekend. Kendall went 10-for-15 on opening weekend with three home runs, 10 RBI and five stolen bases. He was also tabbed the NCBWA National Hitter of the Week as well as TSWA Player of the Week. The sophomore has at least one hit, run, RBI and stolen base in each of the Commodores five games.
LOUD NOISES
The Vanderbilt offense has opened up the season with lots of loud noise, hitting six home runs over the first five games and scoring 58 runs. Jeren Kendall has three home runs with Kyle Smith adding two round trippers and Alonzo Jones hitting his first career home run on Sunday. The Vandy Boys are averaging 11.6 runs per game over the first five games. Vanderbilt enters the weekend slugging .560 as a team with 19 of the team’s 55 hits going for extra bases.
GOOD START
The Commodores are off to a 5-0 start for the sixth time (2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014) under Head Coach Tim Corbin. The last time the Dores opened the season with five straight wins they won the team’s first seven games of the season. The 2007 Vanderbilt team led by David Price started the season an amazing 19-0 en route to the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking.
HARRIS RETURNS TO HAWKINS FIELD
Former Commodore Brian Harris returns to Hawkins Field this weekend but will be in the first base dugout as the volunteer assistant coach for UIC. Harris enjoyed a standout career at Vanderbilt, where he earned All-SEC honors as the Dores’ shortstop in 2009. He took over in Chicago for former Vandy Boy Jack Lupo, who served as the volunteer coach for UIC each of the last two seasons. Harris’ father, Robert, and brother, Andrew, are also former Commodores with Andrew now serving as the Dores’ analyst for SEC Network+ broadcasts.
