HOOVER, Ala. – Vanderbilt makes its 24th overall appearance at the SEC Tournament when the top-seed Commodores begin play Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. from Hoover Met Stadium. The Dores will face No. 8-seed Auburn.
The SEC Network will air the first, second, third, fourth and semifinal rounds of event with the championship game airing on ESPN2. SEC Now, the network’s flagship news and information program, will surround the games. Fans can also listen on WNSR 560 AM/95.9 FM and VUCommodores.com.
Vandy (45-10, 23-7 SEC) captured its first since SEC regular season title since 2013 with a 12-4 win at Kentucky on Friday. Its 23 conference wins were the second-most in program history. The Commodores have won 20 league games four times (2007, 2011, 2013, 2019).
The Commodores swept Auburn (32-23, 14-16 SEC) in a three-game set at Hawkins Field in late April, batting .402 while collecting 14 extra-base hits. The Tigers are making their 27th all-time appearance in the event and third in four seasons under head coach Butch Thompson.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
– WEDNESDAY: RHP Mason Hickman (6-0, 2.26 ERA) vs. TBA
NEED TO KNOW
Vanderbilt is making its 14th straight appearance in the SEC Tournament. The Commodores are looking to snap a four-game losing streak at the event (2016-present). Vandy is 35-22 at the SEC Tournament under Tim Corbin and has qualified in 16 of 17 seasons.
Right fielder JJ Bleday was named SEC Player of the Year and Tim Corbin was tabbed Coach of the Year, the league announced Monday. The Commodores placed four student-athletes on the league’s first team including Bleday, Philip Clarke (catcher), Austin Martin (third base) and Tyler Brown (reliever). Starting pitcher Kumar Rocker appeared on the conference’s all-freshman team while Julian Infante and Martin were recognized as all-defensive players.
Vanderbilt is tied for the national lead (Mississippi State, UCLA) with 45 victories. Vandy closed its season with nine-straight SEC road victories, the longest streak in team history. The Dores’ 45-10 mark is its best through 55 games since 2013 (48-7) and among its best in team lore.
UP NEXT
With a win in the opener, the Commodores will play Thursday’s final game against the winner of Mississippi State and LSU/South Carolina. If the Dores lose, they will play Thursday at 12:30 p.m. tentatively against the loser of Mississippi State and LSU/South Carolina.
