NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 4 Vanderbilt clubbed four home runs and scored in every inning except the second, running away with its season-high eighth-consecutive victory by defeating Tennessee Tech 21-10 on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
Center fielder Isaiah Thomas (4-for-5) swatted two home runs and accounted for five RBIs. The freshman capped Vanderbilt’s six-run first inning with a two-run shot. The Commodores (35-9) received a bases-clearing, three-run double from Pat DeMarco and sent all nine batters to the plate in the frame.
Tennessee Tech starter Connor Adams (2-2) was tagged for six runs on four hits while walking three and striking out a pair in two innings. The Golden Eagles (18-25) committed four errors and had no answer for a Vanderbilt offense that posted a season-high 21 hits.
Vanderbilt sent all nine batters to the plate in three different innings. The Dores logged their ninth consecutive midweek win while scoring 20-plus runs for the second time this season, and first since plating 24 against Davidson on March 5. Ten batters recorded at least one hit.
Austin Martin (2-for-2) contributed a mammoth three-run homer in the third while Julian Infante (2-for-4) and Philip Clarke (2-for-4) added RBI-singles. One inning later, Thomas delivered a three-run home run and Clarke brought home another with a two-out single for a 15-1 advantage.
Ty Duvall (2-for-4) got into the action in the fifth, lifting a two-run homer onto the walkway in right-center field. Tate Kolwyck (2-for-2) logged his first-career hit – a double into the left-field corner – in the sixth and added his first-career RBI an inning later.
Vanderbilt starter Mason Hickman (6-0) allowed four hits and one run in four innings while striking out seven. Five Commodore relievers followed with AJ Franklin posting a scoreless frame. The Golden Eagles collected 11 hits and scored in each of the final three innings.
The Commodores return to SEC play on Friday, opening a three-game series at South Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network Plus. Saturday’s middle game is at 7 p.m. CT on ESPNU and Sunday’s finale begins at 12:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network Plus.
