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Commodores Take Series From Tennessee 5/9/2004
Commodores Take Series From Tennessee 5-9-04 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Junior right-hander Ryan Rote tallied his school-record 10th save of the season as the Commodores posted 3-2 victory over Southeastern Conference Eastern Division rival Tennessee today at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The win in Sunday’s rubber match gives Vanderbilt its first series win in Knoxville since 1993. The win improves Vanderbilt’s record to 33-14 overall and 12-12 in the SEC. Tennessee falls to 34-15 and 12-12 in SEC play. Vanderbilt got on the scoreboard in the first when Mike Baxter doubled home Ryan Klosterman who led off the game with a walk. Baxter finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and a game-high 12 putouts at first base. The Commodores made it 2-0 in the third when Antoan Richardson singled and stole second and third before scoring on a throwing error by UT catcher Nick Crowe. Tennessee cut the lhe Vanderbilt lead in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the third Eric King scored on an Eli Iorg single to center field. Ryan Klosterman led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field, giving Vanderbilt a 3-1 advantage. It was his fourth homer of the season. Klosterman finished the day with two runs, a hit, a walk and an RBI. In the bottom of the sixth, Tennessee mounted the first of two big scoring threats. UT loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Kyle Norrid and Chris Kemp and an intentional walk. With one out, Jensen Lewis came on in relief for starter Matt Buschman and recorded the final two outs in the inning on a sacrifice fly — which cut the lead to 3-2 — and a line out to Warner Jones. The Vols mounted another threat in the eighth as Chris Kemp led off with a double. He was replaced by pinch runner Rob Fitzgerald who took third on a deep fly to center. After a ground out to the pitcher and a walk, Brian Cleveland popped out to Klosterman at shortstop to end the inning. Rote came on in the ninth and retired the Vols in order to set the Vanderbilt single-season saves record, passing Clinton Johnston’s nine in 1996. Buschmann (6-1) scattered seven hits over 5.1 innings for the win, while Lewis allowed just one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. Vanderbilt will return to action on Wednesday, May 12, when it plays host to Samford at Charles Hawkins Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. |
