March 1, 2011
VANDERBILT RE-VUThe Commodores improved to 7-1 on the year with a midweek win over Belmont and a series victory over eighth-ranked Stanford. VU topped Belmont 6-2 and was led by a pair of freshmen. Right-hander T.J. Pecoraro notched his first collegiate win in his first outing with four shutout innings. The New York native scattered three hits and fanned five in the win. Fellow Freshman Tony Kemp knocked in two runs and stole his fifth base of the year. Preseason All-American Sonny Gray outdueled fellow preseason All-American Mark Appel in the Friday night game with the Dores emerging with a 2-1 win. Gray pitched six strong innings striking out six and not allowing a hit over his final three frames. Anthony Gomez knocked in the winning run with a double in the sixth inning. Vandy rallied from two seperate three-run deficits on Saturday to win 8-7. Conrad Gregor hit his first home run as a Commodore for his first collegiate hit and added a RBI-single. Aaron Westlake hit his first homer of the season and went 3-for-3 in the win. The Cardinal handed the Dores their first loss of the year on Sunday with a 5-2 Stanford win. Back-to-back home runs in the second inning and solid pitching were too much for the Commodores to overcome.
ON THE BUMP
Tuesday, March 1
LHP Corey Williams (0-0, 2.45) vs. RHP Brian Edelen (0-0, 4.00)
Friday, March 4 – Brown
RHP Sonny Gray (2-0, 3.48) vs. RHP Matt Kimball (0-0, -.–)
Saturday, March 5 – Brown
LHP Grayson Garvin (1-1, 3.77) vs. RHP Kevin Carlow (0-0, -.–)
Sunday, March 6 – Brown
RHP Taylor Hill (1-0, 5.23) vs. RHP Lucas Whitehill (0-0, -.–)
CONRAD THE CONQUEROR
Freshman Conrad Gregor started consecutive games for the first time in his young career over the weekend and it paid off. Gregor belted a solo home run in Saturday’s comeback win for his first collegiate hit, added a RBI-single later in the game and reached base three times on Sunday.
GIVE ME MOORE
Closer Navery Moore earned his second and third saves of the year over the weekend in two one-run games. The right-hander struck out two in one inning on Friday night and worked a perfect inning in Saturday’s victory.
MOVIN’ UP
The Commodores moved up in all five major polls this week. Vanderbilt is ranked No. 2 by Baseball America, USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, Perfect Game and the NCBWA. Collegiate Baseball tabs the Dores at three.
AGAINST THE HILLTOPPERSVanderbilt and Western Kentucky split the home-and-home series last season with WKU winning 17-2 on West End and the Commodores returning the favor the next day in Bowling Green with a 17-6 win. The Dores lead the all-time series 37-18.