NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The third-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores had not played a high-scoring game all season until Saturday when the Commodores had to rally from behind to behind eighth-ranked Stanford 8-7 at Hawkins Field to win the series.
With the game tied 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning and the bases loaded Anthony Gomez legged out a potential inning-ending, double play to drive in the winning run. Twice Vandy battled back from three-run deficits to tie the game. Stanford jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first but the Commodores’ first two home runs of the year led the comeback. Solo home runs from Conrad Gregor and Aaron Westlake tied the game and Gregor’s RBI-single in the third evened the contest. Gregor’s home run in the second inning was his first collegiate hit. The Cardinal rallied for two runs in the fourth inning to chase starter Taylor Hill and tacked on two more runs off freshman lefty Kevin Ziomek to take a 7-3 lead into the sixth. Vanderbilt used three hits, two walks and a timely error to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Jason Esposito’s two-run double off the third base bag again tied the score.
Vanderbilt produced a season-best eight runs on a season-high 13 hits led by Westlake, who went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Gregor and Curt Casali each had two hits in the win. Stanford was led by Kenny Diekroeger, who knocked in three runs while going 4-for-5, in the loss.
Mark Lamm earned the win in relief tossing two scoreless innings and striking out three for his second win of the year. Navery Moore pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his third save of the year. Scott Snodgress was pegged with the loss giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief.
The Commodores and Cardinal wrap up their three-game series tomorrow afternoon with first pitch moved up to 12:30 p.m. at Hawkins Field. Left-hander Grayson Garvin will be on the bump for Vanderbilt with Stanford yet to name a starter.
