|
Warner Jones Sets SEC Hitting Streak Record in 7-4 Win 3/31/2004
Warner Jones Sets SEC Hitting Streak Record in 7-4 Win NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Second baseman Warner Jones put his name in the Southeastern Conference record book by recording a base hit in his 32nd consecutive game as 25th-ranked Vanderbilt defeated Austin Peay, 7-4, at Hawkins Field Wednesday night. Vanderbilt improves to 20-5 and equals the best 25-game start in school history, tying the 1905 and 1972 Commodore squads. Austin Peay moves to 16-7. Jones finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk and had a season-high eight assists, including two double plays. Shortstop Ryan Klosterman went 2-for-3 with two RBI, a run scored and was hit by a pitch. Vanderbilt’s Michael Wagner (1-0) got his first career win in his first start of the season. He also set career highs for innings pitched and strikeouts, with 5.0 and eight, respectively. He allowed four runs on seven hits. Austin Peay got on the board first when Alfredo Burkeen scored on Tommy Smith’s bases loaded infield single. Vanderbilt took its first lead in the bottom of the second at 3-1 when Matt McGraner and Aaron Garza scored on Ryan Klosterman’s triple off the centerfield wall. The Governors retook the lead in the third on an RBI single from Jared Walker, an RBI double from Smith and an RBI groundout by Ron Bethke that gave APSU a 4-3 edge. Vanderbilt came right back in the bottom half of the third and tied the game at 4-4 when Mike Baxter scored from second on a Tony Mansolino single. The Commodores pushed their lead to 6-4 an inning later when Antoan Richardson executed a bases loaded suicide squeeze as Matt McGraner was running from third. Ryan Klosterman, who was also running with the pitch from second, scored on the play as he rounded third when APSU’s Jared Walker threw to first to get Richardson. Klosterman slid in under the tag of catcher Tommy Smith for the sixth run. The Commodores got a sacrifice fly from Mike Baxter in the seventh which scored Klosterman to produce the final margin. Baxter finished the day 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. The game was not without controversy and excitement toward the end. APSU’s lone double play came on an appeal play following Baxter’s sac fly. The Govs got the third our of the inning when the umpires ruled that Jones, who started on second base, left early when he tagged up for third. APSU head coach Gary McClure argued that the run should have been disallowed but was unsuccessful. Vanderbilt’s Greg Moviel recorded two outs in the ninth before being relieved by closer Ryan Rote who came on with the bases loaded and got Smith to strike out to end the game. It was Rote’s fifth save of the season. APSU starter Michael Dunn (0-1) was credited with the loss after he allowed six runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings. Vanderbilt returns to action with a weekend series against South Carolina. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST. |
