NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt (26-10) blanked Tennessee Tech, 7-0, on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field for the team’s 29th consecutive midweek home victory.
Starting pitcher Devin Futrell turned in another impressive outing for the Commodores to pick up his eighth win on the season. Futrell held Tennessee Tech scoreless over 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits and struck out six. With the performance, he lowered his team-leading ERA to 1.85.
Vanderbilt used three arms out of the bullpen to earn the team’s seventh shutout on the year. The trio of Brett Hansen, Jack Anderson and Nick Maldonado combined to cover the final 3.0 frames, with each reliever working 1.0 inning apiece.
The Commodores wasted no time getting on the board. Jack Bulger lined a one-out double to the right-center gap and stole third as Dominic Keegan drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Spencer Jones then ripped his team-leading 15th double off the top of the wall in right field, scoring Bulger.
The inning continued as Calvin Hewett was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Davis Diaz then worked a walk to bring home Keegan. The next batter, Matthew Polk, was also hit by a pitch to bring in Jones.
The Dores increased their lead to 4-0 one batter later when the Tennessee Tech pitcher was called for a balk, bringing Hewett across to score.
Vanderbilt added to the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Enrique Bradfield Jr. led the inning off with a walk and then stole second. Bulger walked and the pair advanced to second and third on a balk.
Keegan singled through the right side to score Bradfield and Bulger came home on a fielder’s choice to make it a 6-0 advantage for Vanderbilt.
Keegan drove in his second run of the evening in the bottom of the fifth. Carter Young started off the frame with a walk and made his way to third via a hit-by-pitch and groundout. Keegan then grounded out, allowing Young to come home and increase Vanderbilt’s lead to 7-0.
Vanderbilt’s offense scored its seven runs on five hits. The team drew seven walks and reached base on a hit-by-pitch six times.
The Commodores return to conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Kentucky. Vanderbilt and Kentucky will meet at 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday for Game 1 of the series.
