March 24, 2016
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Vanderbilt dropped Tuesday’s game at Middle Tennessee 7-4 while committing a season-high six errors. Chandler Day took his first career loss allowing six runs, three earned, The Commodores salvaged the Sunday game vs. Mississippi State with a 12-6 win on Sunday. Jason Delay led the way with three hits and four RBI. Vanderbilt dropped the team’s second straight one-run game on Saturday to Mississippi State 5-4. Bryan Reynolds hit his third homer and drove in three in the loss. The Commodores dropped the SEC opener 2-1 in 13 innings to Mississippi State on Friday night. Matt Ruppenthal took the loss despite a career-high seven innings of relief.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, March 25
RHP Jordan Sheffield (3-1, 0.88) vs. RHP Reggie McClain (3-0, 1.11)
Saturday, March 26
TBA vs. RHP Tanner Houck (2-2, 2.65)
Sunday, March 27
TBA vs. LHP Austin Tribby (2-2, 4.40)
ROAD DORES
Vanderbilt hits the road this week for four games and will not play inside the friendly confines of Hawkins Field again until March 31. The Commodores played the front end of a home-and-home series with Middle Tennessee on Tuesday in Murfreesboro before traveling to Missouri for the Dores’ first conference road test against the Tigers. Next Tuesday, the Vandy Boys play Belmont at First Tennessee Park, home of the Triple-A Nashville Sounds (Oakland), in downtown Nashville.
TAMING THE TIGERS
Vanderbilt makes the program’s second-ever trip to Missouri this weekend and first 2014. The Commodores are 10-0 against the Tigers all time having won 10 straight since Mizzou joined the Southeastern Conference in 2013. The Commodores won all four meetings last year, including a walk-off win at the SEC Tournament on a Rhett Wiseman home run.
VANDY BOYS SURVIVOR
Entering the weekend the Commodores have three players – Jeren Kendall, Bryan Reynolds, Will Toffey – that have survived to play in every game this season. More impressive is that the trio has also reached base in every game this season. Kendall leads the way with hits in 19 of the Commodores’ first 21 games this season with Toffey and Reynolds each recording hits in 16 of 21 games. Kendall, however, has come the closest to not reaching base in a game, reaching only once against Northern Illinois on a hit by pitch. Reynolds and Toffey have walked in each game they have not recorded a hit this season.
REVOLVING DORE(S)
Freshman Stephen Scott earned his first career start on Tuesday, getting the nod in left field. Left field joins second base and shortstop in the Vanderbilt defensive alignment to have four different Commodores draw starting assignments this year. In left, Scott, Ro Coleman (15 games), Kyle Smith (3) and Walker Grisanti (2) have all seen their names on the scorecard. At second, Tyler Campbell and Ethan Paul have each started nine games with Alonzo Jones (2) and Liam Sabino (1) getting starts as well. At short, Campbell leads the way with 11 but Vandy has started three true freshmen there this season – Paul (4), Jones (1) and Connor Kaiser (5).
STEADY TOFFEY
Will Toffey has been a steady force in the middle of the Vanderbilt lineup. Toffey has reached base in all 21 games with at least one walk in 16 games. He leads the team and SEC in walks with 25 already this season after drawing 34 walks during his entire freshman campaign (71 games).