Dores Take Opener Over Aggies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt used a strong pitching performance and some timely hitting to down Texas A&M, 5-3, in the series opener Thursday night at Hawkins Field.

Vandy used three arms in the win with sophomore Connor Fennell making his first start in a Commodore uniform. Texas A&M got a two-run homer off Fennell in the top of the first before the righty settled in and struck out six batters in a row. Fennell went 3.2 innings and finished with eight punchouts.

Vandy got on the board in the bottom of the third. Braden Holcomb led off the inning with a single, his first of three hits in the game. Jonathan Vastine worked a walk and Jacob Humphrey launched a three-run homer to jolt Vanderbilt into a 3-2 lead.

In his last three games, Humphrey has two home runs, a triple and four RBI.

After Riley Nelson doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, Mac Rose lined a one-out single to center, plating Nelson and giving the Dores a two-run lead.

Alex Kranzler took over on the mound in relief of Fennell and went 1.1 innings with two strikeouts. Kranzler didn’t surrender a hit but an error did allow Texas A&M to pull back within a run in the top of the fifth.

Holcomb continued his three-hit night in the bottom of the sixth. Colin Barczi singled with one out and took second on an error. Holcomb then laced a singled to score Barczi and make it 5-3, Commodores.

Sawyer Hawks, who came in to pitch in the sixth, blanked Texas A&M over the final four innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

Vanderbilt improves to 13-0 at home and 17-5 on the season. The Dores and Aggies continued the series Friday at 6 p.m.