March 8, 2018
Vanderbilt takes part in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic this weekend with heavyweight-matchups at No. 11 UCLA on Friday (8:00 p.m. CT) and USC on Saturday (6:00 p.m. CT) before facing off against TCU on Sunday (12:30 p.m. CT).
Fans can listen to Wednesday’s broadcast on Nashville’s WNSR SportsRadio 560 AM and 95.9 FM or worldwide through the VUCommodores app. Saturday’s tilt at USC will be broadcast on the PAC-12 Networks.
Vandy last competed in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic in 2015. The nation’s top-ranked team downed No. 4 UCLA, 6-0, before losing 6-5 on a two-out walkoff home run to USC. The Dores dropped the finale, 4-2, to No. 6 TCU.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, March 9
RHP Drake Fellows (1-0, 1.76 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Bird (1-0, 0.49 ERA)
Saturday, March 10
LHP Jackson Gillis (2-0, 3.72 ERA) vs. LHP Quentin Longrie (2-0, 4.96 ERA)
Sunday, March 11
TBA vs. TBA
NEED TO KNOW
Vanderbilt is in the midst of the longest road trip of the Tim Corbin era (2003-present). Friday’s game will be the fifth of a seven-game stretch away from Hawkins Field. The trip began last weekend with three in Houston.
Vanderbilt is the only team in the country to rank in the Top 30 for batting average, earned run average and fielding percentage. Through 14 games, the Commodores are fourth in fielding percentage (.988), 20th in batting average (.320) and 27th in earned run average (2.75).
Vanderbilt pitching has been lights out with runners on base. The staff has held opponents to a .194 batting average (38-for-196). Friday starter Drake Fellows has faced 24 batters with runners on base, yielding only three hits (.125).
This season marks the ninth time in the last 10 years in which Vanderbilt has played road games in the state of California. During that stretch, the Dores have played at Cal (1x), Long Beach State (4x), San Diego (6x), San Diego State (1x), Stanford (9x), UCLA (2x) and USC (2x) for a combined record of 14-11.
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Vanderbilt held Long Beach State hitless through six innings before a three-run barrage in the seventh proved to be the difference in a 4-3 defeat at Blair Field on Wednesday night.
The No. 15 Commodores jumped ahead three runs after five innings, thanks to a two-run single and solo home run from Jayson Gonzalez. The Covina, Calif., native produced three RBIs and finished 2-of-3 at the plate.
Vanderbilt starter Jake Eder drew the no decision after tossing five hitless innings while striking out seven and walking four. Eli Villalobos earned the win with 1.2 innings of relief for the Dirtbags.
