April 22, 2011
VANDERBILT RE-VU
South Carolina handed the Commodores their first series loss of the year rallying for a 5-3 win on Sunday. Jason Esposito hit two home runs and Aaron Westlake added his team-best sixth homer of the year. The Gamecocks scored four runs in the seventh inning to erase a two-run deficit. Vanderbilt bounced back with a 6-4 win Saturday night to even the series. Tony Kemp led the way with a career-high five hits for the Dores. South Carolina held the Commodores to a season-low three hits in a 3-1 Gamecocks win Friday night. The loss snapped a school record eight-game SEC winning streak and 11-game overall winning streak.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, April 22
RHP Sonny Gray (7-2, 1.79) vs. RHP Kurt McCune (5-2, 2.40)
Saturday, April 23
LHP Grayson Garvin (7-1, 2.44) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (2-4, 4.39)
Sunday, April 24
RHP Taylor Hill (2-0, 3.17) vs. RHP Ben Alsup (5-3, 3.06)
ESPOSITO ON A ROLL
Jason Esposito enters tonight’s game on an 18-game hitting streak. The Commodores’ hot corner is 24-for-69 (.348) during the streak with 14 RBI and 13 runs scored. The preseason All-American has been red hot over his last six games going 10-for-24 (.417) with three multi-hit games, two doubles and three home runs. Esposito hit three home runs over the final two games at South Carolina last weekend, including his second career two home run game last Sunday.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Commodores return to Hawkins Field this weekend where the team is 21-2 this season, including a 5-1 SEC mark. The Dores are hitting .328 as a team at home led by Aaron Westlake’s .416 batting average and Curt Casali’s 23 RBI. Anthony Gomez has a 22-game hitting streak at The Hawk and is hitting .408 at home. The team’s pitchers have posted a 2.27 ERA at home with Sonny Gray being nearly unhittable. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 0.51 ERA and .134 batting average against in his five starts at The Hawk.
ONE IS NOT ENOUGH
The Vanderbilt offense is hitting .305 thanks in large part to the team’s 102 multi-hit games. Five different Commodores have at least 12 multi-hit games this season led by Aaron Westlake’s 19. Anthony Gomez (18), Tony Kemp (15), Curt Casali (14) and Jason Esposito (12) help lead the way for the Dores. Including the top five, 12 Commodores have registered at least one multi-hit game this year.
TAMING THE TIGERS
The Commodores host LSU for the first time since 2007 when Vanderbilt swept the Tigers in a three-game series. VU took two-of-three from LSU last season in Baton Rouge before the Tigers beat the Dores in the SEC tournament. The Commodores have not lost a series against LSU since 2005 when the Tigers took two-of-three from VU in Nashville. Vanderbilt is 32-51 all-time against LSU dating back to 1974. Coach Tim Corbin is 12-10 against the Tigers since taking over the Commodores in 2003.
NO MIDWEEK ACTION
For the first time this season the Commodores enter the weekend having not played a midweek game. Vanderbilt has just two midweek contests left on the schedule traveling to Western Kentucky next Tuesday and playing at Louisville on May 10. The Dores are a perfect 9-0 in weekday games this season.
FIGHTING HUNGER THIS WEEKEND
For the third straight year the Vanderbilt baseball team is conducting a food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Bins to collect food will be outside the gates of Hawkins Field all weekend for fans to donate food. The most needed items are peanut butter, canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fruit, rice and beans, pasta, cereal, and macaroni and cheese.
DORES ON TV
For the fifth consecutive week Vanderbilt will play on television. Two of the games against LSU at Hawkins Field this weekend will be televised. Saturday’s game will be on FSN and Sunday’s on ESPN2.
GRAY MOVING UP
Junior Sonny Gray is on the move up the career all-time lists. The right-hander has moved into seventh place all-time with 258 career strikeouts. David Price (2005-07) holds the school record with 441 strikeouts. Gray is now tied for seventh place all-time with Price and Mike Minor among others with 22 wins. Jeff Peeples (1970-73) holds the school record with 29 wins.
ESPOSITO RUNS INTO TOP 10
Jason Esposito moved into the Top 10 all-time for stolen bases in a career at Vanderbilt when he stole a base on Opening Day against San Diego. The junior third baseman has added to his total and now is in eighth place with 61 stolen bases. Next up on the list is Nick Morrow (1991-94), who had 65 steals in his career. Charles DeFrance (1980-82) holds the school record with 96 stolen bases.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
First up, it’s “Free Stuff Friday,” with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. We’re honoring Commodore legend and current Atlanta Brave Mike Minor by giving out 250 #12 jersey T-shirts. Also, if you’re looking to get your “Sweet Caroline” fix, look out for a special appearance by Neil `Baseball’ Diamond during the first game of the series.
On Saturday, come out to the Commodore Art Festival at 12 p.m. The festival–which will be held on Jess Neely Drive–features performing arts, such as Latin dance and a showcase for Vanderbilt student artwork. After you’re done checking out the cool paintings and dances, pick up one of 500 Vanderbilt Baseball Koozies, courtesy of Branding “U”. After all the festivities, the Commodores take on the Tigers at 2:30 p.m.
Sunday is sure to be a great day for Commodore fans of all ages. Before the game begins at 2 p.m. we’ll be giving out Vanderbilt bumper stickers, wristbands and baseball cards. Then, stick around after the game for an autograph session with players and an opportunity for kids to run the bases.