June 3, 2011
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Florida shut out the Commodores 5-0 to win the Southeastern Conference Tournament title. The shutout loss was just the second of the year for Vanderbilt. Vandy moved into the SEC Tournament Championship game with a 3-2 win over Arkansas. Connor Harrell’s two-run homer in the second inning proved to be the game winner. Vanderbilt topped South Carolina 7-2 Thursday to improve to 2-0 in the SEC Tournament. The Dores scored four runs in the ninth to blow the game open and give Sonny Gray his 10th win of the year. The Commodores opened the SEC Tournament with a 10-0 run-rule win over Georgia Wednesday night. T.J. Pecoraro and Kevin Ziomek combined for a one-hit shutout. Vanderbilt wrapped up the regular season 44-9 and 22-8 in the SEC to win a share of the SEC regular season championship.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, June 3
RHP Sonny Gray (10-3, 2.12) vs. RHP Matt Hamann (9-1, 2.22)
Saturday, June 4
LHP Grayson Garvin (12-1, 2.2.38) vs. TBA
HOSTING AT HAWKINS
For just the second time in school history Vanderbilt plays host to a NCAA Regional. The first time was in 2007 when the Commodores entered the tournament as the top national seed before eventually being upset by Michigan in the championship game. Vanderbilt’s No. 6 national seed is only the second national seed in school history.
GARVIN IS ALL-AMERICAN
Grayson Garvin was named a second team All-American earlier this week by Louisville Slugger. The lefty was tabbed the SEC Pitcher of the Year and a first team All-SEC performer after being the first pitcher in SEC history to go 10-0 in SEC play. The honor is the first for a Commodore since 2007 when a school record four players (David Price, Pedro Alvarez, Dominic de la Osa, Casey Weathers) earned All-American honors from Louisville Slugger.
TOURNAMENT TIME
Vanderbilt enters the postseason for the 10th time in school history and seventh time under Head Coach Tim Corbin, including six straight seasons now. The Commodores are 20-18 all-time in the NCAA Tournament going 5-3 last year losing at Florida State in three games of a Super Regional. Under Head Coach Tim Corbin the Commodores are 17-13 in the NCAA Tournament, including a 16-9 record in Regionals. Prior to Corbin’s tenure Vanderbilt was 3-6 and had made just three trips to the NCAA Tournament in school history.
THE FIELD
Oklahoma State (two seed), Troy (three seed) and Belmont (four seed) along with the Commodores make up the Nashville Regional, which is across from the Corvalis Regional in the bracket. Oregon State (one), Creighton (two), Georgia (three) and Arkansas-Little Rock (four) comprise the Corvalis Regional with the winner advancing to take on the winner of the Nashville Regional. Virginia (one), Florida (two), North Carolina (three), South Carolina (four), Florida State (five), Texas (seven) and Rice (eight) make up the rest of the national seeds. The SEC put seven teams into the field this year.
AGAINST BELMONT
Vanderbilt beat the Bruins in the teams’ only meeting earlier this year winning 6-2 in the first game of the year at Hawkins Field in February. VU holds the all-time edge 46-10 dating back to 1968.
WINNING FACTORS
Aaron Westlake has been one of the Dores’ biggest contributors this year hitting .398 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI and 43 runs scored in the team’s wins. In Vanderbilt’s losses the slugger hit just .175 with five RBI and three runs scored. In wins Vandy outscored opponents by an average of 7.9-2.5 but was outscored 4.8-2.7 in the team’s 10 losses. The club’s pitchers have a 2.08 ERA in wins and 4.45 ERA in losses.
SEC HONORS
The SEC honored several Commodores with All-SEC accolades. Junior Grayson Garvin was named the league’s Pitcher of the Year after going 9-0 with a 1.83 ERA in SEC regular season play. The lefty led the league with 11 wins on the year. Tony Kemp was tabbed the Freshman of the Year after hitting .342 for the year and .402 in SEC games during his first collegiate campaign. Aaron Westlake joins Garvin and Kemp on the All-SEC first team after leading the Commodores with 13 home runs and a .360 batting average. Juniors Sonny Gray and Jason Esposito along with freshman Conrad Gregor were placed on the All-SEC second team. Kevin Ziomek along with Kemp and Gregor represent VU on the All-SEC Freshman team. Gray and Esposito were also tabbed on the All-Defensive team.
GRAY MOVING UP
Junior Sonny Gray is on the move up the career all-time lists. The right-hander has moved into fifth place all-time with 297 career strikeouts. David Price (2005-07) holds the school record with 441 strikeouts. Gray is now tied with Jim Gibbs (1981-84) for second all-time with 25 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 at San Diego. The junior third baseman has added to his total and now is in seventh place with 65 stolen bases. Next up on the list is Dominic de la Osa (2005-08), who had 68 steals in his career. Charles DeFrance (1980-82) holds the school record with 96 stolen bases. Esposito is third all-time with 58 doubles in his career.