NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt baseball used strong performances from pitchers Carter Holton and Sam Hliboki to defeat Loyola Marymount 2-1 Friday to take Game 1 of the series at Hawkins Field.
Holton went 6.0 innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out seven for his first quality start on the season. Sam Hliboki came on in relief in the seventh and retired all nine batters he faced to pick up his second win.
LMU’s Khadim Diaw hit a two-out solo home run to left-center in the top of the second to give the Lions an early lead.
OH! MY! 😤#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/A7lpFzwt9w
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 10, 2023
The Commodores tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth. RJ Austin worked a leadoff walk and moved to third on a single through the right side by RJ Schreck before scoring the tying run on a Davis Diaz RBI single.
Vandy took the lead one inning later. Enrique Bradfield Jr. delivered the clutch hit with one out in the seventh. Jack Bulger was hit by a pitch and reached second on a sac bunt. Calvin Hewett came on as a pinch runner and took third on a wild pitch before Bradfield lined a single over the LMU second basemen to score Hewett and give Vanderbilt its first lead on the night at 2-1.
Go-ahead base knock by Bradfield.#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/zpbS0cnh6o
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 11, 2023
The Commodore pitching staff has allowed just three runs over the last 46 innings while totaling 52 strikeouts.
Three perfect frames to close out the night. #VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/84M1zJLA0o
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 11, 2023
Vanderbilt (11-4) and LMU (6-6) will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday with action airing on SEC Network+.
