Feb. 19, 2015
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Vanderbilt won the opening series of the season with a pair of wins against Santa Clara last weekend. The Dores clinched the series with a walk-off 6-5 win in the 10th inning when Ro Coleman delivered the game-winner. Jordan Sheffield picked up the win in his collegiate debut. The Broncos rallied for two runs in the ninth to stun Vandy in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday 7-6. Hayden Stone suffered his first career loss giving up the two runs. Dansby Swanson matched a career-high with four hits in the loss. The Commodores opened the season with a shutout for the first time since 2010 in a 4-0 win over Santa Clara. Pitchers Carson Fulmer and Philip Pfeifer combined on the shutout with Fulmer earning the win and Pfeifer his first career save. Ro Coleman drove in two runs with one of the Dores’ three triples in the win.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, Feb. 20
RHP Carson Fulmer (1-0, 0.00) vs. LHP David Stagg (0-0, 9.82)
Saturday, Feb. 21
LHP John Kilichowski (0-0, 9.82) vs. LHP Jeff Degano (1-0, 6.35)
Sunday, Feb. 22
TBA vs. TBA
PACK IT UP, WE’RE TAKING THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD
With Nashville experiencing inclement and extreme weather, the Commodores have headed south to play Indiana State. The Dores were originally scheduled to play Illinois-Chicago at home at Hawkins Field this weekend but with snow and ice already on the ground with more snow forecast for Friday and rain on Saturday and Sunday the team moved their games and opponent to Florida. Vandy will now take on Indiana State at Charlotte Sports Park, home of the Tampa Bay Rays spring training and Single-A Port Charlotte Stone Crabs.
NEW BASEBALL = MORE OFFENSE
The new flat seam baseballs produced more offense on opening weekend around the SEC. Teams from the league scored 9.2 runs per game compared to 6.6 runs per game on opening weekend of 2014. The long ball was back as well with the 14 teams in the SEC combining for 34 round trippers compared to 21 on 2014 opening weekend. Rhett Wiseman hit the lone homer for the Dores on opening weekend despite temperatures being in the 30s at Hawkins Field. Vandy posted nine extra-base hits on opening weekend, including three triples in the opener. VU is on track for 75 triples this season which would nearly triple the school record of 26 set in 2004.
ALL ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW
Vanderbilt’s quick decision to take the team on the road this weekend to Port Charlotte, Fla. to play Indiana State was aided by a pair of relationships on the Commodores’ coaching staff. Coach Tim Corbin’s relationship with Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg payed off with the the Rays allowing the Dores to play the weekend series at the Rays’ spring training complex. Director of Sport Performance Chris Ham’s relationship with Indiana State head coach Mitch Hannahs helped set up the opponent. Ham played for Hannahs in junior college in Illinois.