Nashville, Tenn. — No. 12 Vanderbilt notched the team’s eighth shutout victory Tuesday night, blanking Morehead State 6-0 at Hawkins Field.
The two teams traded zeroes through the first four innings before the Commodores’ (38-15) offense finally pieced together a rally to take a 1-0 lead on a clutch two-out, RBI-single from Liam Sabino. Vanderbilt tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth inning when Ethan Paul led off the frame with a double into the left-center field gap. Jeren Kendall followed with his team-leading sixth triple of the season before scoring on Sabino’s second two-out, RBI-single of the night.
Freshman Matt McGarry drew his second career start and did not disappoint with a career-high 4.1 innings. The right-hander hit the first batter of the game with the first pitch but bounced back to get the next three outs to end the inning. He worked out of a first-and-third jam in the third inning with Connor Kaiser and Tyler Campbell turning a double play to end the inning. The Eagles chased McGarry in the fifth with back-to-back, one-out singles but Collin Snider entered and shut down the threat with a double play of his own.
The Dores added three more runs in the eighth inning with Bryan Reynolds’ bases loaded walk forcing in a run in front of a two-run single by Julian Infante. Snider and freshman Donny Everett finished off the Commodores’ second shutout in the team’s last three games. Snider picked up his fourth win of the year with 2.2 innings of relief. Everett fanned three in his two innings of work.
Sabino led the Vandy offense, matching a career-best with three hits and two RBI. Paul and Kendall each chipped in two hits in the win.
Craig Pearcy took the loss for the Eagles allowing one run on two hits over 2.1 innings out of the bullpen.
Vanderbilt opens the final regular season series of the year on Thursday night at Hawkins Field against Auburn at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
