NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt lost 5-3 to Middle Tennessee on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field to snap a 20-game win streak in home midweek contests.
Vandy tied the game in the bottom of the sixth at 3-3, but MTSU scored twice in the eighth to secure the win.
A leadoff homer in the top of the first gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Blue Raiders added a second run in the top of the second on a groundout.
Vandy got on the board in the bottom of the third when Rustan Rigdon launched a solo homer to right field, his second on the season.
MTSU made it a 3-1 game in the top of the fourth on an RBI single.
The Dores pulled even with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth off a hit and an error. Braden Holcomb and Jonathan Vastine each reached base on walks. Mac Rose then singled through the right side to score Holcomb from second.
With one out, Jacob Humphrey flied out deep to right field. Vastine tagged at second and Rose tagged at first. The throw from the outfield went to second base but was wide and got past the shortstop covering the bag, allowing both runners to move up with Vastine touching home to tie the game at 3-3.
Middle Tennessee took advantage of two wild pitches and a passed ball in the top of the eighth to score twice on two hits and retake the lead.
Vandy put the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth but was unable to pull off the comeback, falling 5-3.
The Commodores hit the road this weekend to face Ole Miss for a three-game series beginning Friday. Vandy enters the weekend No. 9 in the D1Baseball poll while the Rebels are ranked No. 23.
