NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There are plenty of offensive statistical categories the Commodores are currently among the best in among their SEC peers: batting average, stolen bases, on-base percentage and triples, to name a few.
Yet Vanderbilt is still waiting for dam to break when it comes to scoring runs in bunches.
Vandy (28-11, 9-9) goes into this weekend’s series against Texas A&M – starting at 7 p.m. Thursday – ranked eighth in the SEC in scoring at 7.2 runs per game. That’s actually 1/2 run higher than what the 2021 team finished, a team that was one win short of a national championship.
One would have to think an offensive outburst that translates into a clump wins could be right around the corner.
“We’re just going to keep staying consistent in our routines and, hopefully, I feel like the floodgates are going to open soon,” Vandy catcher and designated hitter Jack Bulger said. “It’s a really good group of guys and we get along really well together and it’s a really cohesive group. I think all the parts are going to start clicking soon.”
The Commodores are coming off a series win at Kentucky that included a combined no-hitter Friday. It was the team’s second straight series win as it looks to continue to create some momentum going into the month of May.
With 12 conference games remaining on the docket, Vanderbilt’s hopes of winning an East Division crown are virtually dashed as it stands eight games back of first-place Tennessee. But improving its seeding for the SEC Tournament and polishing its resume ahead of the NCAA’s postseason are still huge factors down the stretch.
Vandy travels to Georgia – second place in the East – next weekend and then to Arkansas – first place in the West Division – the week after before the final regular-season series at home against LSU (May 19-21).
“Winning an SEC series on the road is never easy,” Bulger said. “That Sunday (win at Kentucky) was really important for us to just come out, come out hot, swing the bats well in the first few innings and really ride that the rest of the game and come out with the win. Wins are tough to get.”
Texas A&M (25-14, 10-8 SEC) comes to Nashville for the first time since 2017. The Aggies are coming off a series win against No. 3 Arkansas and having a winning record (8-4) on the road this season – but have only left the state of Texas three times in 2022.
Jack Moss (.373, 30 RBIs) leads four players hitting at least .299 in the A&M lineup and five Aggie batters have driven in at least 30 runs. Starter pitchers Nathan Dettmer (3.38) and Micah Dallas (4.76) are a combined 8-4.
Texas A&M also makes a living by working into deep counts and drawing walks – it has earned 209 free passes this season.
“They got some really good players,” Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin said. “They’re older in some ways. Their pitching is older. They got some good-sized, young kids that have played at other schools that have done very well and are now playing together very well. It’s probably what makes them a good team.
“I think it’s about (Vanderbilt starter Chris) McElvain and any other pitcher who is on that mound executing their fastball and executing their pitches to the best of their ability to kind of slow the bat down. You can only work off their weakness if you’re pitching to your strengths. If you’re not getting to your strengths it doesn’t matter what their weaknesses are.”
This week’s series against Texas A&M is the programs Throwback Weekend in which Vanderbilt will celebrate its history. And should the Dores win two of three from the Aggies they will continue to make history by recording the program’s 18th straight 30-win season.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
