Dores Run-Rule Sooners

NORMAN, Okla. – Vanderbilt run-ruled Oklahoma 13-2 in eight innings on Sunday at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

Vanderbilt scored in seven of eight innings and finished with 11 hits. Four Commodores enjoyed a multi-hit game led by Riley Nelson who went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Braden Holcomb also homered and drove in a team-high four RBI on a 2-for-4 day including a double.

Nelson provided a spark for the offense in the top of the first with a solo home run to center, his fourth long ball on the season.

The Dores added on in the top of the second thanks to a two-run blast by Holcomb to right field, his second homer this season.

RJ Austin was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the third. He took second on a wild pitch and stole third before coming home on an RBI single by Nelson to give Vanderbilt a 4-0 lead.

The inning continued with an error that allowed Nelson to move to second. Rustan Rigdon brought Nelson in on a single through the left side to put Vandy up by five.

Oklahoma got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, scoring once to trim the Vandy lead back to four.

The top of the fifth saw Austin again reach first on a hit-by-pitch. He stole second and moved to third on a single by Nelson. Brodie Johnston then ripped an RBI double to plate Austin and make it a 6-1 game.

Vandy kept their foot on the gas and pulled away from the Sooners with a three-run frame in the sixth. Jacob Humphrey was hit by a pitch with one out. After a groundout, Austin was hit for the third time to put a pair of runners on base. Nelson worked a walk to load the bases and Johnston picked up his second RBI with a fielder’s choice to score Humphrey from third.

Rigdon poked a single through the middle to bring home Austin and Nelson and stretch Vandy’s advantage to 9-1.

Jonathan Vastine made it an even 10 runs for the Commodores on an RBI single in the top of the seventh to score Humphrey from second.

Vandy tacked on three more runs in the eighth as Holcomb scored two with a double down the line in left. Vastine then singled off the pitcher to score Holcomb and make it 13-1.
Oklahoma got a run back in the bottom of the eighth but Vandy secured the run-rule victory with a 13-2 score.

Not to be overshadowed by the offensive output, Connor Fennell turned in yet another impressive outing on the mound, holding the Sooners to one run over 4.1 innings with five strikeouts.

Sawyer Hawks relieved Fennell and picked up a four-inning save. He allowed just one run on two hits over the final 3.2 innings with five strikeouts as well.

Vanderbilt improves to 26-10 on the season and 8-7 in SEC action. The Commodores return to Hawkins Field to host Lipscomb on Tuesday at 6 p.m.