March 30, 2016
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Vanderbilt took advantage of Belmont’s mistakes Tuesday night at First Tennessee Park to beat the Bruins 8-2. Collin Snider picked up the win with two scoreless innings. The Commodores finished a series sweep of Missouri on Sunday with a 17-7 win. Bryan Reynolds smashed two home runs and drove in a career-high five runs. Vanderbilt rallied with two outs in the 11th inning to clinch the series with a 2-0 win on Saturday at Missouri. Jason Delay and Alonzo Jones each drove in runs in the 11th to push the Dores to victory. The Commodores rallied in the ninth inning for four runs with two outs to stun Missouri 8-6 on Friday. Bryan Reynolds’ two-run homer was the difference after Jeren Kendall’s two-run singled tied it.
ON THE BUMP
Thursday, March 31
RHP Jordan Sheffield (3-1, 2.21) vs. RHP Clarke Schmidt (6-0, 1.29)
Friday, April 1
RHP Kyle Wright (4-0, 1.37) vs. RHP Braden Webb (5-1, 2.10)
Saturday, April 2
TBA vs. RHP Adam Hill (5-0, 1.91)
AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA
Vanderbilt welcomes South Carolina back to West End for the first time since the 2014 regular season finale that saw the Gamecocks rally to take the series opener and then clinch the series on the last day of the regular season. The Commodores dominated South Carolina in the series opener in Columbia last season behind Carson Fulmer but the Gamecocks held down the Vandy offense over the final two games to clinch their second straight series vs. VU. The Dores’ last series win against the Gamecocks game in a two-game series sweep in Columbia during the Commodores’ historic 2013 season that saw Vanderbilt win a record 26 league games. The series features a Top 5 showdown for the first time since 2011 when No. 1 Vanderbilt lost two of three at No. 3 South Carolina. The Commodores are 28-53 all-time vs. South Carolina.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Commodores return home to Hawkins Field this weekend to play for the first time since March 20. Vanderbilt’s five-game road trip marks the team’s longest of the season after the Dores played 17 of the team’s first 20 games at Hawkins Field. Vanderbilt has been dominant at home outscoring teams 170-55 behind an offense that hits .326, led by Jeren Kendall’s 28 hits and 23 RBI. Thursday night starter Jordan Sheffield is 3-0 with a 0.35 ERA (1ER/25.2IP) with 39 strikeouts.
ALL FOR PAUL
Freshman Ethan Paul looks to have taken over the starting second base position, having started the last 13 games for the Commodores. During the stretch the Bellevue, Wash. native is hitting .357 (15-for-42) with six extra-base hits, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored. Paul has posted five multi-RBI games and four multi-hit games over the last 13, including a career-best, three-hit and three-RBI game at Missouri last Sunday.
TWO ROUND TRIPS
Bryan Reynolds became the second Commodore this season to hit a pair of round trippers in a game in last Sunday’s win at Missouri. Reynolds blasted a three-run shot to left field in his first at-bat on Sunday in the first inning and added a two-run dinger to center field in his second at-bat in the fourth inning to drive in a career-best five runs. The two homers gave the Brentwood, Tenn. native three home runs for the weekend and a team-leading six for the season. Jeren Kendall hit two home runs against San Diego in the season opener. Dansby Swanson and Rhett Wiseman were the only two Dores to have multi-home run games last season.
WELCOME BACK RO
Ro Coleman returned to form last weekend going 7-for-15 (.467) at Missouri after suffering through a lengthy slump. The junior was 3-for-25 (.120) in his previous 10 games going into the series at Missouri before breaking out. Coleman’s third hit on Friday night against the Tigers helped spark a four-run rally that led to an 8-6 win.
PRODUCTIVE AT THE BOTTOM
Tyler Campbell has been productive at the bottom of the Vanderbilt lineup over the team’s last seven games. The senior is 9-for-23 (.391) with three two-hit games, seven RBI and three runs scored. Campbell has hit ninth in the order in 20 of 25 games this year.
