KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7 Vanderbilt could not get on track offensively on Sunday in a 7-0 loss at Tennessee to drop the Commodores’ second series of the season.
The first two Commodores (25-8, 6-6) of the game reached base but Bryan Reynolds bounced into a double play and Vince Conde popped up to end the inning with Ro Coleman standing on third base. Vanderbilt did not get another runner to third until the ninth when Nolan Rogers was left there to end the game. The Dores’ first hit came in the fifth when Chris Harvey singled with one out and Vince Conde came up with VU’s second hit, a single in the sixth. The two hits on Sunday are the fewest by the Commodores this season.
Tennessee (21-9, 5-7) got the only runs they needed in the second inning when Christin Stewart singled in Nick Senzel, who reached first on the first of two catcher’s interference calls in the game. Stewart came around to score on a groundout. Derek Lance’s solo home run opened the bottom of the third and Nick Price’s triple made it 4-0 Tennessee. A three-run fifth inning put the game away and chased Vandy starter Tyler Ferguson, who took the loss allowing seven runs, five earned, on six hits over 4.1 innings.
The Vanderbilt bullpen was a bright spot in the game with Adam Ravenelle and Ben Bowden combining for 3.2 scoreless innings. Conde continued his hot streak, ending the weekend hitting .500 in Southeastern Conference games and has reached base in 19 straight games overall. Dansby Swanson’s walk in the first inning extended his streak to all 33 games this season reaching base.
Volunteers’ starter Kyle Serrano picked up the win with 5.1 scoreless innings. The freshman walked four and fanned three in the victory. Stewart drove in three runs and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Tennessee offense.
Vanderbilt returns to action Tuesday night at Hawkins Field when Indiana State visits Nashville for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.
