Postgame Notes: Vanderbilt vs. Belmont

June 5, 2011

Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Jones’ Photos media_icon_photogallery.gif | Green’s Photos media_icon_photogallery.gif | Russell’s Photos media_icon_photogallery.gif

Vanderbilt 6, Belmont 1
Official Attendance: 3050
Total Attendance for Tournament: 16620
Time of Game: 2:23

BELMONT NOTES

  • Belmont ends its season 38-26 overall, posting a 2-2 record in its first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. The Bruins claimed the first two NCAA Tournament wins in the school’s history in any sport.
  • Belmont lost all three meetings this season against Vanderbilt, falling 6-2 on February 23 before dropping 10-0 and 6-1 decisions in the NCAA Regional. All three contests were played at Hawkins Field.
  • Tim Egerton hit his 13th home run of the season for Belmont’s only run of the contest, tying teammate Nate Woods for eighth on the single-season list at BU.

VANDERBILT NOTES

  • With the victory Vanderbilt wins its second consecutive NCAA Regional and advances to the program’s third Super Regional. The Commodores won the Louisville, Ky., Regional in 2010 before losing in three games at Florida State in the Super Regional. VU also played in the Super Regional in 2004 in Charlottesville, Va.
  • With the victory Vanderbilt improved to 50-10 overall for the season, posting the program’s second 50-win campaign. The Commodores also won 50 games in 2007 (50-13).
  • Vanderbilt upped its record to 18-5 in NCAA Regionals under head coach Tim Corbin and 21-14 overall in NCAA Regionals in program history.
  • Jason Esposito’s double in the third inning was the 60th two-bagger of his career, moving him into third place all-time. He trails only Sean Luellwitz (61, 1999-02) and Dominic de la Osa (63, 2005-08).
  • Jason Esposito drove in a pair of runs in the contest, one with the double in the third and another on a solo home run in the seventh, giving him 161 for his career, good for ninth place on the all-time list, surpassing Glenn Davis (1995-97) and Josh Adeeb (1996-98).
  • Jason Esposito collected three more hits in the game and seven in the tournament. He now has 250 for his career, tied for ninth on the all-time list with Warner Jones (2003-05) and Sean Luellwitz (1999-02).
  • Taylor Hill struck out a career-high 13 in eight innings of work, matching his longest outing of the year. He also tossed eight innings against Illinois-Chicago on March 13. The 13 punchouts also moved Hill up the career list at VU into seventh place with 251, surpassing Doug Wessell (1970-73).

Nashville Regional All-Tournament Team

Starting pitchers: Chase Brookshire (Belmont), Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt)/Taylor Hill (Vanderbilt) (tie)
Relief pitcher: Jon Ivie (Belmont)/Thomas Austin (Troy) (tie)
Catcher: Matt Zeblo (Belmont)
1st Base: Aaron Westlake (Vanderbilt)
2nd Base: Riley Reynolds (Vanderbilt)
3rd Base: Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt)
Shortstop: Anthony Gomez (Vanderbilt)
Outfield: Mike Yastrzemski (Vanderbilt), Daniel Peterson (Troy), Derek Hamblen (Belmont)
DH: Conrad Gregor (Vanderbilt)
MVP: Jason Esposito (Vanderbilt)