NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Freshman Brodie Johnston became the first Commodore since at least 2011 to hit two home runs in the same inning in Vanderbilt’s 15-3, run-rule win over Xavier on Friday evening at Hawkins Field.
Johnston hit a two-run homer to start a nine-run seventh inning and ended the game with a grand slam in his second trip to the plate.
With the seven-inning victory, the Commodores have run-rule wins in four consecutive home games.
Johnston’s six RBI on Friday are the most by a Commodore this season. In just nine collegiate games, Johnston is hitting .389 with three home runs, a triple, four doubles and 17 RBI.
JD Thompson got the start on the mound for Vanderbilt and totaled a career-high 10 strikeouts to pick up his second win on the season, holding the Musketeers to three runs on four hits over 6.0 innings.
Vandy got off to a quick start offensively with a three-run first inning. RJ Austin hit a leadoff double and scored on a sac fly from Mac Rose. Colin Barczi hit a two-out, two-run homer to give the Commodores a 3-0 lead.
Xavier used a pair of home runs to pull even in the top of the third but would be kept off the board the remained of the game.
Braden Holcomb reached on an error in the bottom of the fourth. After Jonathan Vastine singled, Austin hit his second double of the game to plate Holcomb and Vastine and retake the lead for the Dores. Riley Nelson knocked in Austin with a single to make it 6-3, Vanderbilt.
After Sawyer Hawks retired the side in the top of the seventh, the Dores piled it on to make sure the game didn’t reach the eighth inning.
Nelson led things off with a double and Johnston hit the first of two home runs for him in the frame. Rose worked a walk followed by a single by Barczi. Jayden Davis was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Back-to-back walks to Holcomb and Humphrey brought home a pair of runs and kept the bases full for Nelson, who was hit by a pitch to score another run.
Johnston then ended the game with a grand slam to center field to make it 15-3.
The Commodores improve to 11-3 on the season while the Musketeers fall to 7-7. Game 2 in the series will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday and stream on SECN+.
