ARLINGTON, Texas — Vanderbilt baseball fell 11-4 to TCU on Opening Day at the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field.
No. 15 TCU used a five-run sixth inning to take the lead against the No. 10 Commodores on Friday.
The Horned Frogs struck first on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Vanderbilt quickly responded in the top of the second as Calvin Hewett used his legs to spark the offense.
Hewett reached on a hit-by-pitch, stole second base and advanced to third on a flyout before scoring on a groundout. Freshman RJ Austin brought Hewett home for his first collegiate RBI.
With one out in the third, Davis Diaz tripled to center field for Vanderbilt’s first hit of the 2023 campaign. Enrique Bradfield Jr. then put the Commodores in front 2-1 with a sac fly to center, bringing home Diaz from third.
TCU pulled even with a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of Tre Richardson to make it 2-2.
Sam Hliboki came on in relief of Vandy starting pitcher Carter Holton with two outs and two on in the fourth. Hliboki, making his first appearance since April 10, 2021 due to injury, got the final out to end the inning and strand a pair of Horned Frogs in scoring position.
The Dores scratched across a run in the sixth to go back on top 3-2. Following two hit-by-pitches and a walk, Parker Noland drew a bases-loaded free pass to bring in the go-ahead run.
TCU responded with a five-run frame in the home half of the sixth. The Horned Frogs loaded the bases and plated three on a double before Brayden Taylor hit a two-run home run.
The Horned Frogs tacked on four more one inning later on a two-run double and a pair of RBI singles.
Jonathan Vastine capped off a 3-for-4 day with a solo homer in the top of the ninth, his first collegiate long ball.
Holton went 3.2 innings in his first start of 2023, striking out four while allowing a pair of runs. Hliboki struck out five over 2.1 innings. Freshman David Horn threw a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts in his debut.
Vanderbilt is back at Globe Life Field Saturday to face No. 9 Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. on FloSports.
