Commodores Win Season Opener, 12-6, Over Southern Illinois

2/20/2004

Commodores Win Season Opener, 12-6, Over Southern Illinois
Dores bang out 15 hits

Nashville, Tenn

. — The Vanderbilt Commodores totaled 15 hits, led by sophomore second baseman Warner Jones with three, enroute to a 12-6 victory over Southern Illinois in the Commodore’s season opener at Hawkins Field Friday. Vanderbilt’s 12 runs were the most in an opener since 1998 when the Commodores defeated Lipscomb 12-4. It is also the most runs since the 2002 season when Vanderbilt totaled 17 runs in a win over Kentucky (17-4).

Vanderbilt is 1-0, while Southern Illinois owns a 0-4 mark.

Sophomore left-hander Jeremy Sowers (1-0) earned the win pitching six innings giving up four hits, three runs (two earned) and striking out six. Sophomore right-hander Matt Buschmann notched the save (1) pitching three innings and totaling three strikeouts. The Saluki’s Marshall Tucker was charged with the loss (0-2) giving up nine hits and six runs (four earned) in 5.1 innings pitched.

The Commodores picked up two runs in the first when Ryan Klosterman scored on a Cesar Nicolas double. Nicolas then scored when Mike Baxter singled to left field.

Southern Illinois answered with one run in the second and third innings. With bases loaded, Nick Baughman was hit by a pitch which scored Nathan Boldt who reached base on an error. In the third, Greg Andrews hit a home run to tie the game at two.

Vanderbilt then scored one run in the third to take the lead for good. The Commodores scored nine runs in the final four innings, including five runs in the eighth to extend their lead to eight, 12-4. Southern Illinois scored two runs in the top of the ninth when pinch hitter Josh Markle hit a two-run homerun to right field. Bushmann retired the side with a strikeout, his third of the game.

Every Commodore reached base and all but one registered a hit in the contest. Ryan Klosterman, Cesar Nicolas, Mike Baxter, Tony Mansolino and Matt Zeller each totaled two hits, followed by Worth Scott and Jonathan Douillard with one each.

Jones went 3-4 in the game and totaled three RBI. Baxter also totaled three RBI, followed by Nicolas and Scott with two apiece. Klosterman and Mansolino also numbered a RBI.

Game two of the series is Saturday (Feb. 21) at 2 pm at Hawkins Field.