NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 5 Vanderbilt plated six runs in the fourth inning en route to an 11-5 victory over Georgia State on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
The Commodores fell behind 1-0 in the second after a Georgia State solo home run.
Vanderbilt’s first hit came in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of RJ Schreck, who sent a fly ball over the wall in right for his team-leading 12th home run on the season and 50th RBI.
Schreck ties us up with his 50th RBI of the season‼️#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/LQsxLPUhNR
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 3, 2023
Chris Maldonado put Vandy on top two batters later with a solo shot of his own, number six on the campaign for the freshman.
Go-ahead homer brought to you by Maldo 🚨#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/Dskngec0Zy
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 3, 2023
Georgia State made a pitching change after the Maldonado homer and Parker Noland sent the first pitch from the new pitcher 414 feet to right field to make it 3-1.
Park sends it to 25th ave. 😤#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/FLD43T0fW6
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 3, 2023
Matthew Polk kept things going with a two-out single and stole second before Jonathan Vastine doubled him home. Alan Espinal followed with another double to score Vastine to make it 5-1, Dores.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. made it three consecutive RBI doubles as Espinal and Bradfield traded places on a line drive to right-center.
The Panthers pulled back to within three with a pair of runs on a single and a groundout in the top of the fifth.
Davis Diaz led off the bottom of the inning with a no-doubt blast to left to put Vandy on top 7-3.
No doubter Diaz 🔋#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/L7E8C8FwMn
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 3, 2023
After a single by Austin and walk to Maldonado, Noland brought the pair home on a single and an error to increase the lead to 9-3 in the fifth.
Diaz added to his RBI total with a sac fly in the bottom of the sixth as the Commodores scored for the third consecutive frame.
Georgia State got two runs back in the top of the seventh. A solo home run, triple and a wild pitch cut the Dores’ lead back down to five.
Bradfield used his speed in the bottom of the eighth to add an insurance run. Bradfield singled to the shortstop, stole second and took third on a passed ball before scoring on a sac fly by Diaz to make it 11-5.
Diaz finished the night 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Every starter in the Vanderbilt lineup recorded at least one hit.
Jack Anderson (W, 2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of work. Anderson, Greysen Carter, David Horn and Sam Hliboki combined for 13 strikeouts.
Vanderbilt (33-11) returns to conference action Thursday at Alabama. The Commodores and Crimson Tide will meet for Game 1 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. Friday’s Game 2 is set for a 7 p.m. start on SEC Network and the finale is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday on SECN+.
