NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s ninth inning rally came up one run short in the Commodores’ 6-5 loss to Belmont at Rose Park Tuesday night.
Trailing 6-3 entering the ninth inning, the Commodores (4-8) rallied for a pair of runs. Pinch hitter Drew Fann reached base after being by a pitch to lead off the inning and Vince Conde’s single brought the tying run to the plate. Connor Castellano smashed a ground ball at Belmont (7-5) first baseman Matt Beaty, who knocked the ball down and made the play for the first out. After a strikeout, the Dores were down to their final strike before Tony Kemp singled to right field, driving in two runs and closing the gap to a single run. Belmont closer Garrett Fanchier, however, finished off the game getting Anthony Gomez to bounce into a fielder’s choice.
The game went back-and-forth through the first three innings with Vanderbilt taking a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Beede replaced starter Jared Miller. Beede found trouble with one out, making an error and walking the next batter. A single by Jamie Ritchie loaded the bases for William Dodd, who had already knocked in a run with a single in the second inning. Dodd crushed the first pitch he saw over the left field bullpen to put the Bruins in front for good.
The Vanderbilt offense struggled after the third inning not collecting a hit until the team’s ninth inning rally. With his ninth inning single Kemp pushed his hitting streak to nine games. Gomez paced the VU offense going 2-for-5 for his fifth multi-hit game of the season. Dodd led the Bruins with two hits and five RBI.
Beede (0-2) took the loss allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits over a career-best 4.2 innings with a career-high six strikeouts. Jared Miller pitched three innings in his first collegiate start allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. Brandon Frensley (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Belmont with two scoreless innings.
The Commodores host San Diego at Hawkins Field this weekend. Game time for Friday is set for 4 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.
