April 30, 2015
VANDERBILT RE-VU
The Commodores dropped a 4-1 game at Belmont on Tuesday. John Kilichowski took the loss allowing two runs over 5.1 innings. Vanderbilt finished the team’s fourth series sweep of the season with a 5-2 win over Missouri on Sunday. Dansby Swanson’s two-run single off the left field wall proved to be the game-winner in the eighth inning. The Commodores claimed the series over Missouri behind a dominant performance in a 12-2 win. Philip Pfeifer struck out a career-high 13 in his first start of the season and Rhett Wiseman and Zander Wiel hit home runs. Vanderbilt used another strong start from Carson Fulmer to beat Missouri 9-2 in the series opener. Fulmer tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out 11 in his eighth win of the year.
ON THE BUMPFriday, May 1
RHP Carson Fulmer (8-1, 1.52) vs. RHP Zack Brown (4-4, 2.81)
Saturday, May 2
LHP Philip Pfeifer (3-2, 3.18) vs. RHP Dustin Beggs (6-2, 2.84)
Sunday, May 3
RHP Walker Buehler (3-1, 2.66) vs. TBA
BATTLE IN THE BLUE GRASS
Vanderbilt returns to Lexington for the first time since 2013 when the Commodores wrapped up the SEC title with a three-game sweep of the Wildcats in the ninth week of the league schedule en route to a record 26-3 mark. Last season at Hawkins Field the Dores took of two-of-three to win their fifth straight series against Kentucky. Entering the weekend, Vandy is 116-121-3 all time vs. Kentucky dating back to 1924.
BIG WIEL
Zander Wiel’s big week last week netted the junior his third SEC Player of the Week honor this season after he hit .467 (7-for-15) with three home runs and eight RBI. His efforts also earned him National Player of the Week recognition from Collegiate Baseball. Wiel homered in each of the three games against Missouri during the weekend, including his third grand slam of the season on Saturday. His nine home runs this season are tied with Rhett Wiseman for the team lead. Wiel’s 45 RBI lead the Commodores and already pass his total from all of last season (44).
PFEIFER, KENDALL PICK UP WEEKLY AWARDS TOO
Philip Pfeifer and Jeren Kendall joined Zander Wiel in earning weekly honors for their performances last week. Pfeifer’s career-best, 13-strikeout performance in his first start since 2013 on Saturday against Missouri was recognized by Collegiate Baseball as one of the National Pitchers of the Week. The lefty dominated over seven innings to earn his third win of the year and become the second Vandy pitcher (Carson Fulmer) to earn National Pitcher of the Week accolades. Jeren Kendall was tabbed the SEC Freshman of the Week after hitting .462 (6-for-13) with five RBI while starting all four games in left field for the Dores. Kendall smashed his third homer of the season on Friday night and drove in at least one run in all four games.
FEEL THE BREEZE
Vanderbilt’s pitching staff enters the weekend leading the SEC with 460 strikeouts and the nation with 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings (424.2 IP) after striking out 41 batters last weekend vs. Missouri, including 33 by starting pitching. Carson Fulmer’s 101 strikeouts lead the league and rank second nationally behind Navy’s Luke Gillingham (110). Vandy has struck out 10-plus batters in 28 games this season. The Commodores set a school record last season with 636 strikeouts in a school record 639.2 innings pitched.
HOME BOYLexington-native Walker Buehler returns to the Commonwealth to start against Kentucky for the first time in his career this weekend. The junior tossed three innings against the Wildcats in 2013 to earn the only save of his career allowing one run on five hits in the Dores’ 11-3 victory in the first win of a doubleheader sweep.