NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt beat Kennesaw State 9-5 Wednesday night at Hawkins Field to run the team’s winning streak to six games and improve to 13-1 on the year.
The Commodores and Owls battled back-and-forth through the first five innings in windy conditions before Kennesaw State took the lead in the top of the sixth. The Vanderbilt offense came alive in the bottom of the inning scoring three runs on two hits and three walks to reclaim the lead. Anthony Gomez put the home team back in front with a two-run single after Mike Yastrzemski knocked in the tying run with a bases loaded walk. The Dores extended the lead in the seventh with bunt singles from Connor Harrell and Riley Reynolds. Harrell’s bunt drove in a run and Tony Kemp’s groundout knocked in Harrell to run the VU lead to 9-5.
Reynolds paced the offense with three of the club’s 12 hits on the night. Harrell, Aaron Westlake, Jason Esposito and Conrad Gregor all had two-hit games with Esposito scoring three runs. For the Owls Ronnie Freeman extended his nation-leading hit streak to 42 games going 2-for-2. Sean McClurken led the team going 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Mark Lamm picked up his team-best fourth win in relief, pitching two scoreless innings. Kennesaw State starter Sean Fream took the loss giving up seven runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. Vanderbilt starter Kevin Ziomek struck out six and allowed two runs on five hits in his 3.2 innings.
The Commodores welcome Illinois-Chicago to Nashville for a three-game, weekend series starting Friday afternoon. First pitch for Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Vandy will send Sonny Gray to the hill Friday to face Flames right-hander Matt Salemi.
