NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt had to rally from a six-run deficit to beat Illinois-Chicago 9-8 in 10 innings Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
With the scored tied 8-8 in the 10th inning Mike Yastrzemski’s hit-and-run double into the right field corner scored Tony Kemp all the way from first base to complete the comeback and give the Dores their 15th win of the year. The second-ranked Commodores were down 7-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before rallying for five runs in the fifth to cut the Flames’ lead to one run. Vanderbilt sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth and used a season-high six hits to get back into the game. VU finally drew even in the eighth inning on Tony Kemp’s safety squeeze bunt to score Cut Casali from third base. However, the Dores again trailed in the ninth after UIC’s Alex De LaRosa singled in a run in the top of the inning. In the bottom of the ninth with two outs Sam Lind’s double off the right field wall chased home Anthony Gomez to once again tie the score and set up Yastrzemski’s heroics in the 10th inning.
Yastrzemski knocked in two runs in the game going 2-for-5 on the afternoon with Curt Casali leading the way for the home team going 3-for-3. Connor Harrell added two hits and Anthony Gomez stretched his hitting streak to 11 games going 2-for-4 with three runs scored. De LaRosa paced the Flames’ 12-hit attack with three hits and two RBI in the loss.
Navery Moore picked up his second win of the year for Vandy tossing 1.2 innings of relief. Jason Ganek took the loss for UIC giving up two runs on two hits in his 1.1 innings of work on the mound after starting at third base. Vanderbilt starter Grayson Garvin gave up seven runs, three earned, on six hits with six strikeouts over six innings in a no decision.
The Commodores will bring the brooms tomorrow afternoon in search of the team’s third series sweep of the year. Taylor Hill takes the ball for the Dores against Flames’ right-hander Joe Begel. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hawkins Field.
