Baseball Takes on Ball State This Weekend

3/2/2006

Vanderbilt continues its 14-game homestand this weekend as Ball State comes to town for a three-game set. The Cardinals and Commodores will open the series Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Hawkins Field.

Game two is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, while the finale is a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Tickets are still available and can be purchased through the Vanderbilt Ticket Office (615) 322-GOLD.

Fans attending Saturday’s men’s basketball game against Tennessee will be able to get into the baseball game free with their ticket stub.

The Commodores have used six different batting orders through the first eight games in an effort to find the best offensive group.

Freshman Nick Christiani picked up his first career win in VU’s 9-5 win over Tennessee Tech last Tuesday with Preseason All-American David Price giving up one-run on four hits in six innings of work with nine strikeouts in the no-decision against the Panthers. He also pitched the ninth inning of the Commodores win over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday and struck out the side on just 10 pitches.

Price now has 19 strikeouts in 11.2 innings this year.

Senior righthander Matt Buschmann pitched the team’s first complete game of the year against Kansas on Sunday … It was the second complete game of his career and first since the 2004 season.

Vanderbilt has been without the services of starting second baseman Alex Feinberg the last seven games due to injury. Feinberg was one of two returning starters who hit over .300 a year ago.