ARLINGTON, Texas — Vanderbilt baseball defeated Texas 12-2 Sunday at Globe Life Field to wrap up a 2-1 opening weekend at the College Baseball Showdown.
One day after scoring seven runs in the second inning against Oklahoma State, the Commodores plated eight runs in the second inning against Texas.
The Commodores took advantage of four defensive miscues by the Longhorns in the inning. Calvin Hewett reached on an error and scored the game’s first run on another error. Vandy loaded the bases for Alan Espinal who launched his second career home run to right field to give the Commodores a 5-0 lead.
Espinal’s grand slam marked the first for Vanderbilt since Javier Vaz hit one out at Hawaii on March 5, 2022.
RJ Austin singled with two outs to keep the inning going and RJ Schreck followed with a triple off the wall in right-center to score Austin from first. Hewett, who led off the frame, brought home Schreck on a fourth Texas error. Hewett then stole second for his third stolen base of the inning before scoring on a triple to left field by Parker Noland.
Noland finished the day 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Texas got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third but Vandy starting pitcher Devin Futrell limited the damage with an inning-ending double play after Texas has loaded the bases.
T.J. McKenzie roped his second double on the day in the top of the fifth to score Davis Diaz from second and extend the Dores’ lead back to eight at 9-1.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. led off the sixth with a walk and stole second, his first steal on the season, and took third on a throwing error. Schreck then singled home Bradfield to make it a 10-2 ballgame.
Jonathan Vastine hit a two-out, bases-loaded, two-run single up the middle to extend Vandy’s lead to 10.
Futrell gave way to Bryce Cunningham after five strong frames. Futrell (1-0) allowed two runs on three hits while striking out five. Cunningham didn’t allow a hit over the final four innings and struck out seven.
Vanderbilt’s home opener is Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. CT against Central Arkansas at Hawkins Field. Tuesday’s contest can be viewed on SEC Network+.
