Columbia, Mo. — No. 5 Vanderbilt rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning with two outs to stun Missouri 8-6 on Friday night at Taylor Stadium.
The Commodores (18-3, 2-2) rallied back from an early three-run deficit to the game in the fifth but saved more dramatics for the ninth inning. Trailing 6-4 entering the ninth, the Dores were quickly down to their final out when Tyler Campbell singled through the right side to extend the game. Ro Coleman took a 1-0 pitch through the left side of the Tigers’ (14-10, 0-4) infield to put the tying run aboard and set the table for heroics. Jeren Kendall fell behind in the count 1-2 to push the Commodores to the brink but the sophomore came up big with a two-run single into right-center field to tie the game. Missouri went to the pen for Brian Sharp to face Bryan Reynolds. Reynolds then flipped the game with a single swing, smashing a two-run homer to straight away center field for his fourth of the season and a two-run Vandy lead.
Handed the lead for the first time on the night the Dores went to Ben Bowden to close it out. The big lefty issued a one-out walk but quickly shut it down from there with a pop up and his second punch out of the frame to notch his first save of the season.
Vanderbilt fell behind early in the third after starter Jordan Sheffield struggled with command. Sheffield loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter before a two-run single broke up a scoreless game. A sacrifice fly made it 3-0 Tigers before Sheffield worked out of the jam. The Dores rallied in the fifth to tie the game on Kendall’s two-run single but the lead was short-lived as the Tigers tacked on three more in the bottom of the inning.
Coleman led the way for the Commodores with a season-high three hits from the leadoff spot scoring two runs. Kendall drove in four runs with his two hits with Reynolds driving in three with his two hits. Ethan Paul and Tyler Campbell combined to go 4-for-7 with three runs scored from the bottom two spots in the order.
Freshman Evan Steele earned his first career win working two no-hit innings of relief. Sheffield allowed six runs on four hits with five walks and six strikeouts over six innings in the no decision.
Liam Carter took the loss for the Tigers giving up three runs on three hits over 2.1 innings. Starter Reggie McClain allowed four runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings. The Mizzou offense was held to just four hits in the game.
The two teams meet tomorrow at 5 p.m. on SEC Network.
