April 5, 2010
A huge slate of on-campus sporting events this weekend, headlined by the Black & Gold Scrimmage in football, a three-game baseball set against one of the Southeastern Conference’s top teams, a key women’s lacrosse matchup, and a pair of dual women’s tennis matches, could be the perfect tonic for Commodore followers.
The featured spring attraction for Bobby Johnson’s Commodore football squad is scheduled Saturday, sandwiched between the baseball series with highly-regarded South Carolina, two SEC tennis matches, and a lacrosse duel against Ohio State.
And here’s the best news: tickets ($7-12) remain for each baseball game (click to purchase), and admission is free to the other events.
“This weekend offers something exciting for virtually every Commodore follower right here on campus,” Director of Sales and Marketing Steve Walsh said. “How many chances do Vanderbilt fans get to support four of their teams on the same weekend! We hope our fans come out, enjoy the weekend, and support the Commodores.”
The weekend sports frenzy includes:
- – Baseball games against South Carolina on Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.)
– The Black & Gold Scrimmage for football fans on Saturday (10:30 a.m.)
– Women’s lacrosse competition against Ohio State on Saturday (1 p.m.)
– Women’s tennis matches vs. Arkansas (Friday, 2:30 p.m.) and LSU (Sunday, 12 noon)
The on-campus schedule opens with key competitions in baseball and women’s tennis. On Friday, Tim Corbin’s baseball squad, fresh off a 7-0 shutout win at Florida Sunday, faces the SEC East-leading Gamecocks while Geoff MacDonald’s nationally ranked tennis squad hosts No. 22 Arkansas.
On Saturday, Commodore cheerleaders will greet football fans at Vanderbilt Stadium when Gate 2 opens at 9:30 a.m., for the annual Black & Gold Scrimmage. University officials also plan to close traffic on Jess Neely Drive at the same time, allowing Vandyville and its family-friendly activities to start by noon.
The Black & Gold Scrimmage also will be more interactive than in recent years. When Coach Johnson concludes his remarks to the team after the scrimmage, Commodore fans will be allowed on the Dudley Field surface to briefly meet their favorite football players and coaches.
Here’s more on each Commodore weekend activity:
The Black & Gold Scrimmage in Football
Who is making the most progress this spring, the Vanderbilt offense or defense? Fans can make their own judgments Saturday by enjoying the scrimmage.
Due to limited quantities of interior linemen, the scrimmage will be an offense vs. defense affair, as it has in recent years. The squad should be on the field by 10:30 a.m., and start the scrimmage by 11 a.m.
After the scrimmage, Coach Johnson has invited all Commodore fans in attendance for a brief meet-and-greet on the field. Fans attending the scrimmage will receive the Vanderbilt 2010 season poster and schedule cards.
Baseball in Hawkins Field
With a series sweep of South Carolina, the Vanderbilt baseball squad (24-6 overall, 5-4 in SEC) could own the SEC East division lead by Sunday. Taking three from the Gamecocks promises to be a difficult task.
South Carolina (22-6 overall) will arrive in town nationally ranked and sole leaders in the SEC East with a 7-2 mark. They are fresh off a series win over Mississippi State, including a convincing 14-2 triumph on Sunday.
The Commodores will likely send All-SEC pitching prospect Sonny Gray to the mound Friday night in hopes of securing the series opener.
Reserved seating at Hawkins Field behind the first-base dugout ($12) and in the outfield ($7) is available for all three games. (click to purchase)
Women’s Lacrosse On Win Streak
On Saturday, Cathy Swezey’s No. 10-ranked squad (8-3 overall, 2-0 in American Lacrosse Conference play) goes in search of its eighth straight victory when it faces powerful Ohio State. The match also features Senior Day activities for seven Commodores.
The Commodores topped Johns Hopkins 20-12 on Sunday, their fifth consecutive home victory. The winning effort was paced by standouts Sarah Downing, Katherine Denkler and goalkeeper Natalie Wills.
In the Buckeyes, Vanderbilt faces a team that has won four of its last five matches. The Buckeyes’ losses have come to defending NCAA champ Northwestern, Stanford in overtime and William & Mary. Last year, Ohio State edged Vanderbilt 15-13 in Columbus.
Women’s Tennis Preparing for SEC Tourney
The No. 24 Commodore women’s tennis squad faces a pair of tough foes in Arkansas on Friday (2:30 p.m.) and LSU on Sunday (12 noon).
The Commodores, led by Catherine Newman, the nation’s 23rd ranked player, is coming off a pair of road losses to Florida and South Carolina. In their most recent home matches, Vanderbilt swept Auburn 7-0 and narrowly lost to national contender Notre Dame 4-3.