AUBURN, Ala. – Top-ranked Vanderbilt led by one run in the eighth inning with two outs when the Commodores’ offense exploded for eight runs to send VU to an 11-2 victory Saturday night over Auburn at Plainsman Park.
With two outs and two on, Mike Yastrzemski’s two-run single gave the Dores a three-run cushion. However, the Vandy offense was not done sending 12 men to the plate in the inning to set season-highs with eight runs on six hits. The Commodores used three doubles, three singles, two walks and a hit batter to inflict the damage. The rally came after Vanderbilt had scored two runs in the sixth to reclaim the lead when Anthony Gomez scored from second on an infield fielder’s choice. Auburn held the lead briefly when the Tigers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Vanderbilt scored nine two-out runs in the game and has 11 in the first two games of the series.
Six different Commodores had at least one hit on the night with four collecting two hits apiece. Tony Kemp, Curt Casali, Aaron Westlake and Gomez all had two hits on the night. Kemp scored three runs, Westlake hit his team-best fifth home run and Gomez extended his hitting streak to 23 games. Zach Alvord led the Tigers with two hits, including his first career home run in the third inning.
Grayson Garvin earned the win for Vanderbilt pitching 5.1 innings for his fifth win of the year. The lefty gave up two runs, one earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Mark Lamm notched his first save of the year entering a one-run game and recording the final seven outs. Auburn starter Jon Luke Jacobs was pegged with the loss allowing three runs on five hits over 5.1 innings.
The win clinched the Commodores’ seventh straight series victory and sets the team up for a sweep tomorrow afternoon. Taylor Hill gets the nod for the Dores tomorrow against Auburn’s Derek Varnadore. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. on The Plains.
