NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the second straight day Vanderbilt needed a rally in the team’s last at-bat to beat Illinois-Chicago, this time 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
With the score tied 1-1 with no outs and the bases loaded Anthony Gomez delivered the Dores’ second walk-off win in as many days with a solid single up the middle to score Joe Loftus from third base. Gomez was part of the eighth inning rally that tied the game when he led off the inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and came around to score on Jason Esposito’s sacrifice fly to center field. Curt Casali continued his hot streak going 3-for-4 on the afternoon with Gomez going 2-for-4. Casali reached base in nine consecutive at-bats over the weekend until his streak was snapped Sunday with a fly out to left field in the sixth inning.
The Commodores’ comeback win on Sunday marked the club’s third time in the past week they have rallied from behind to win. Vandy rallied to beat Kennesaw State on Wednesday and UIC twice over the weekend.
Navery Moore picked up the win for the second straight day pitching a scoreless ninth to get his third win of the season. Flames’ reliever Chris Hoffman took the loss giving up the winning run in the ninth inning. Vanderbilt starter Taylor Hill turned in eight strong innings allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts in a no decision.
The Commodores return to action Tuesday afternoon when the Purdue Boilermakers visit Nashville. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Next weekend marks the opening of Southeastern Conference play with Mississippi State coming to town to take on the Dores. VU and Hawkins Field host the Bulldogs Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
