NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7 Vanderbilt used a five-run fourth inning and stellar pitching to shut out UT-Martin 5-0 Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
After three sluggish innings, Vince Conde jump-started the offense in the fourth with a leadoff single. An error put Commodores on second and third with one out for Karl Ellison, who delivered the only run the Dores needed with a single to left. The Dores’ offense, however, wasn’t done with John Norwood lining a single to left field to make it 2-0. Xavier Turner kept the rally rolling and extended his hitting streak, driving a two-run double into the left-center field gap. Vanderbilt (24-6) picked up the fifth run of the rally on the second Skyhawks’ (3-23) error of the inning.
Dores’ starter Walker Buehler was sharp over his four innings to earn his fifth victory. The right-hander settled down after giving up four hits the first time through the lineup to strike out four of the final six batters he faced. The sophomore allowed four hits over four innings with five strikeouts and now has 30 strikeouts over his last four starts (22 IP).
The Vandy bullpen finished off the team’s fifth shutout of the season and first since March 8 vs. Winthrop. John Kilichowski and T.J. Pecoraro each worked two innings with Ben Bowden striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth. The VU pitching staff allowed only four UT-Martin base runners to reach scoring position and only one reached third base.
The Commodores’ offense collected 10 hits in the win to push the team’s total to 35 in the last three games. Xavier Turner, Dansby Swanson and John Norwood led the way on Tuesday night with two hits apiece. Turner pushed his hitting streak to 17 games and Swanson stretched his hitting streak to 11 games and has now reached base in all 30 games this season.
Chris Ross took the loss for the Skyhawks allowing five runs, one earned, on seven hits in 3.2 innings.
Vanderbilt returns to action on Friday night at Tennessee. The Commodores and Volunteers open their three-game series at 5 p.m. CT with Saturday’s game broadcast on CSS at 6 p.m. CT and Sunday’s finale at 1 p.m. CT.
