May 9, 2008
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VANDERBILT GAMEDAY CENTRAL
No. 8 Georgia (31-16-1, 17-6-1 SEC) at No. 11 VU (36-13, 14-9)
at Hawkins Field (3,000) in Nashville, Tenn.
Tickets Available, Click for Info
Friday, May 9 at 6 p.m. CT (TV: CSS; Radio: 560 AM)
Trevor Holder, RHP (7-2, 2.84 ERA) vs. Mike Minor, LHP (5-3, 4.00) 
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Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m. CT (TV: None; Radio: 560 AM)
Stephen Dodson, RHP (5-2, 3.88 ERA) vs. Caleb Cotham, RHP (7-3, 3.64) | | Sirius Channel 125
Sunday, May 11 at 1 p.m. CT (TV: None; Radio: 560 AM)
Nathan Moreau, LHP (2-2, 4.81 ERA) vs. Nick Christiani, RHP (5-2, 3.64) 
| | Sirius Channel 143
VANDERBILT LINKS
VU Game Notes | 2008 Statistics | SEC Standings & Leaders
GEORGIA LINKS
Game Preview | Notes & Results & Season Stats
Series History
Georgia leads 113-90 in a series that dates back to 1896. The Commodores have won the last two series and three of five under Tim Corbin, including taking two of three in Athens last year. VU has won six of the last nine matchups over the last two years.
Last Year in Athens
May 4, 2007: Vanderbilt 9, Georgia 5
May 5, 2007: Georgia 7, Vanderbilt 0
May 6, 2007: Vanderbilt 15, Georgia 4
Polls
Vanderbilt is ranked in all the national polls, with a high ranking of No. 11 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. ESPN/Sports Weekly puts the Commodores at No. 14. Collegiate Baseball ranks the Dores No. 16 this week while Baseball America and Rivals.com has the team at No. 18. Georgia is ranked No. 8 in CB, No. 9 by ESPN/Sports Weekly, No. 11 by BA, No. 14 by the NCBWA and No. 18 by Rivals.com. All of the National Polls can be found on page 6 of the release.
The Coaches
VU’s Tim Corbin is 234-121 in his sixth season as head coach. He is 11-8 against the Bulldogs all-time. UGA’s Dave Perno is 237-175-1 in his seventh season in Athens. He is 11-11 against the Commodores all-time.
Radio/TV/Internet
All three games will be broadcast on WNSR 560 AM in Nashville. In addition you can catch the internet version of the broadcast via www.vucommodores.com. “Voice of the Commodores” Joe Fisher will call the action on Saturday and Sunday with Eric Jones calling the opener on Friday. The Saturday (Channel 125) and Sunday (Channel 143) contests will also be carried on Sirius Satellite Radio. Saturday’s game will be televised regionally by CSS. Joe Fisher (play-by-play) and Willy Daunic (analysis) will provide commentary. Live stats can also be accessed through vucommodores.com.
What’s On Tap
Vanderbilt hosts Georgia in a battle between the top two teams in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division this weekend in the penultimate series of the regular season. The Commodores at 14-9 in league play trail the leading Bulldogs (17-6-1) by three games entering the weekend. The teams open up on Friday at 6 p.m., with a 2 p.m. start on Saturday and a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
Scouting Georgia
Georgia is 31-16-1 overall and 17-6-1 in SEC play after taking two of three against Ole Miss last weekend in Athens. On Wednesday, the Bulldogs lost to rival Georgia Tech, 11-1, at Foley Field before heading to Nashville.
Georgia is an experienced ball club both offensively and on the mound with five offensive starters and 11 pitchers who accounted for 94 percent of the innings pitched last year.
Junior shortstop Gordon Beckham is a leading candidate for National Player of the Year honors with a nation’s best 22 homers on the year to go with a .409 batting average and 52 RBI. Sophomore first baseman Rich Poythress has benefited from hitting behind Beckham, batting .339 with 10 homers and 45 RBI. As a team UGA is batting .292 with 63 homers and 323 runs scored (6.7 per game).
All three starters in the rotation return from a year ago to anchor a staff that sports a team 4.14 ERA, including a 3.84 mark in league action. Junior right-handers Trevor Holder (7-2, 2.84 ERA) and Stephen Dodson (5-2, 3.88 ERA) will start on Friday and Saturday respectively with junior southpaw Nathan Moreau (2-2, 4.91 ERA) slated to go on Sunday. Moreau pitched seven innings of four-hit baseball to lead the Bulldogs to their lone win in the series, 7-0, a year ago. Senior right-hander Joshua Fields has dominated this season sporting a 1-1 record with a 0.37 ERA and 13 saves. He had not allowed an earned run all year until last week against Ole Miss and has 44 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 24.1 innings on the year. Sophomore right-hander Dean Weaver has served in the setup man role with a 3-1 record and 2.30 ERA in 20 appearances. He has 34 strikeouts and 12 walks in 31.1 innings.
Seniors Last Stand?
This weekend marks the final regular season series for eight senior players and two student managers, all of whom have played a role in the success of the program. In all the seniors include five current offensive starters with two others who have seen action as both a starter and as a key reserve. The group has a combined 88 homers with over 1,000 games played and 977 starts entering this weekend with 3,084 at bats in the group. The senior players will be recognized immediately following Saturday’s game in a special ceremony and will include: Adam Cronk (Athens, Ga.), Dominic de la Osa (Miami, Fla.), Alex Feinberg (Orinda, Calif.), Brad French (Brentwood, Tenn.), Parker Hanks (Alamo, Calif.) David Macias (The Woodlands, Texas), Shea Robin (The Woodlands, Texas) and Jonathan White (Shelbyville, Tenn.). Also being recognized are support staffers Steven Goldburg (student manager) and Jens Herman (assistant baseball operations) whose dedication to the program has been invaluable.
Although this is the last regular season series, the Commodores are looking to host an NCAA Regional for the second straight year, giving them at least one more weekend in front of the home fans at Hawkins Field.
Where Can The Commodores Finish?
Going into the final two weekends of the regular season, Vanderbilt can finish as high as first and as low as 11th in the conference. Although there are several variables left in play, VU needs three wins to clinch a spot in the SEC tournament on its own, regardless of what the other clubs around the league do. The only team that has salted away its spot in the eight-team field is Georgia and the team can clinch the regular season title with two wins against the Commodores this weekend.
De La Osa Becomes Vanderbilt’s All-Time Hits and Doubles Leader
Last Sunday senior outfielder Dominic de la Osa became Vanderbilt’s all-time hits leader with his second hit in the Commodores 10-8 win over Tennessee. He broke Karl Nonemaker’s record of 283 hits set from 1999-2002 and has 285 hits entering the weekend against Georgia. The hit, a double, also gave de la Osa the career record in doubles at VU as well with 62, besting Sean Luellwitz’ record of 61 also set from 1999-02.
Coming into the season de la Osa was the lone active Commodore in the 200 hit club. Alex Feinberg, Ryan Flaherty, David Macias and Pedro Alvarez have joined him on the exclusive list. Feinberg has 248 in his four years and is currently eighth, while Flaherty has 245 in just his third year, good for 10th best in school history. Macias has 236 hits in his career (12th), while Alvarez, who missed 23 games this year, joined the club against Auburn and now has 217 (21st). Another Commodore is within site of the exclusive group, as senior Shea Robin is just 13 hits away with 187.
Commodore Tidbits
VU enters the weekend riding a five game winning streak and has won 17 of its last 20 games … With final exams complete, the Commodores went into the Tennessee series refreshed and focusing on baseball and delivered a series sweep over the Vols for the second straight season … The sweep in Knoxville is the first for the Commodores since the SEC went to three-game series in 1986. It was also the first time a team had swept back-to-back series in that span. Head coach Tim Corbin is now 15-5 all-time against UT … The Commodore offense exploded over the weekend, scoring 27 runs on 42 hits. The team hit .356 with four homers, 14 doubles and a triple in the three games. A week after going 4-for-26 with runners in scoring position against Kentucky, VU rebounded by going 20-for-51 (.392) with RISP. The team had 10 two-out RBI on the weekend as well … Redshirt freshman Steven Liddle led the Commodores going 5-for-11 (.455) at the plate with three doubles and three RBI. He was won of five regulars who hit over .400 in the series … Ryan Flaherty was 6-for-14 (.429) with a homer, two doubles and five RBI … Shea Robin was 6-for-14 with two homers, a double and four RBI … David Macias and Dominic de la Osa were both 5-for-12 with Macias adding three doubles and four RBI, while de la Osa had two doubles and four runs scored … Defensively, the Commodores played flawlessly with no errors in 120 chances … Mike Minor and Caleb Cotham picked up the wins on Friday and Saturday with 8.2 and 7 innings pitched respectively … Chase Reid picked up his fourth victory of the season, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three … Brett Jacobson picked up his second save of the weekend and fourth of the season, pitching the final inning, allowing one hit and striking out one. He had not allowed a run in his last seven outings (nine innings in relief), before giving up a run against Tennessee Tech on Wednesday.
Hayes Makes Memorable Trip Back Home
Sophomore right-hander Drew Hayes and freshman right-hander Taylor Hill excelled in midweek action in wins over Memphis and Tennessee Tech.
Hayes, making his return to the Jackson area after attending McKenzie High and going to Bethel College his freshman year, held the Tigers to just two hits while striking out a career high 12 batters with just one walk in a career high seven innings of action Tuesday night at Pringles Park.
In his last three outings, Hayes has thrown 12 innings of six hit shutout baseball with 19 strikeouts and just two walks. He is now 2-0 on the year with a season low 2.78 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 32.1 innings.
Hayes’ 12 strikeouts also tied the single game high this season set previously by Mike Minor and Nick Christiani.
Christiani Coming On Strong
Junior right-hander Nick Christiani came on strong in the month of April after being left off the 25-man roster against Arkansas (March 29-30). Since that time the New Jersey native has gone 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA and has 26 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. Christiani moved back into the weekend rotation against Mississippi State on April 13 and responded by giving up just two runs on three hits in seven innings of work with 10 strikeouts. He then picked up the win with five innings of five hit ball against Auburn on April 20. Christiani threw his first career nine-inning complete game against Kentucky on April 27, giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. The feat was done, despite sitting for nearly two hours due to a rain delay. He is now 5-2 on the year with a team best 3.64 ERA and has 48 strikeouts and 19 walks in 54.1 innings.
The junior was scratched from his last start due as a precautionary reason and after getting evaluated on Monday, he has been cleared to play this weekend.
Coach Corbin Final Call-In Show On Monday
Head coach Tim Corbin will end his four-week run of one-hour call-in shows on 104.5 FM The Zone on Monday, May 12. “Voice of the Commodores” Joe Fisher will host the show from 7-8 p.m. at the Commodore Sports Bar and Grill located in the Holiday Inn Select on West End.
In addition Coach Corbin does a weekly interview at 4:06 p.m. on Mondays with 560 AM WNSR. Check www.vucommodores.com during the week for the latest on Corbin interviews.
Alvarez and de la Osa Approaching School Homer Record
Pedro Alvarez and Dominic de la Osa are within reach of the school’s career home-run record. Alvarez missed 23 games and has hit five homers since his return at the start of April to up his career total to 45. He hit two against Memphis on Tuesday to move into sole possession of third place. De la Osa has seven homers on the year and that ties him with Glenn Davis for fourth in school history. Alvarez needs four more round-trippers and de la Osa needs six to tie Scotti Madison’s mark of 49 set from 1977-80.
De la Osa broke Boomer Whipple’s mark of 809 career at-bats against Ole Miss and now has 882 going into the Georgia series. De la Osa also has a school record 61 career doubles, breaking the previous school mark of 61 set by Sean Luellwitz from 1999-2002.