April 28, 2016
Vanderbilt Game Notes 
| Georgia Game Notes
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Vanderbilt scored three runs late to hold off Austin Peay 8-5 on Tuesday afternoon. Jeren Kendall and Alonzo Jones each posted three hits in the win. The Commodores dropped their third series of the year at Tennessee with a 5-3 loss on Sunday. Ben Bowden allowed three runs in the sixth to take his first loss of the season. Vanderbilt struggled in a 2-1 loss to Tennessee on Saturday. Kyle Wright took the loss allowing two runs over five innings. The Commodores cruised to their sixth shutout victory of the year on Friday night with a 6-0 win over Tennessee. Jordan Sheffield tossed eight scoreless innings and Bryan Reynolds belted his SEC-leading ninth home run.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, April 29
RHP Jordan Sheffield (6-2, 2.54) vs. RHP Robert Tyler (3-3, 2.53)
Saturday, April 30
RHP Kyle Wright (4-3, 1.88) vs. LHP Connor Jones (5-3, 5.01)
Sunday, May 1
TBA vs. TBA
BATTLING THE BULLDOGS
Vanderbilt hosts Georgia this weekend for the first time since 2014 when the Commodores swept a three-game series from the Bulldogs en route to the national title. Last year in Athens, Vanderbilt narrowly escaped Foley Field with a second consecutive sweep. VU held on for a 9-7 win on Friday night thanks to a career-best four RBI from Will Toffey before claiming the series with an 11-7 win on Saturday with Tyler Campbell driving in a career-best four runs. A three-run seventh lifted VU to victory on Sunday with Jordan Sheffield making the start and Kyle Wright getting his fourth win of the year out of the pen. The Dores have not lost a series to Georgia since dropping a home series to the Bulldogs in 2008. The Commodores are 108-119 all-time against Georgia dating back to 1896, making the series one of the longest running series in Vanderbilt history.
THE KIDS
Vanderbilt’s recruiting class was tabbed as the nation’s best back in the fall by Baseball America and the kids have not disappointed with 12 freshmen contributing in their first season. Ethan Paul (36G/29GS) and Alonzo Jones (33G/32GS) have seen the most action in the lineup over the course of the year with Patrick Raby (10GS/6G), Evan Steele (11G/0GS) and Chandler Day (7G/3GS) seeing the most action on the mound. The Commodores featured a season-high six freshmen in the starting lineup on Tuesday with Paul (DH), Jones (2B), Julian Infante (1B), Walker Grisanti (LF) and Connor Kaiser (SS) joining pitcher Donny Everett in the lineup. The freshmen hitters have been solid, combining to hit .299 (101-for-338) with 74 runs scored and 66 RBI. The freshmen pitchers are a combined 8-1 with 87 strikeouts over 78.0 innings.
STEADY HANDS
The Commodores’ defense has steadied since freshman Connor Kaiser took over as the team’s starting shortstop 10 games ago on April 9 at LSU. Over the last 10 games, the Dores have committed eight total errors – with four coming in a win over Kentucky – while fielding .979 as a team following a 10-game stretch where the Commodores made 14 errors and fielded .964 as a team. Kaiser has been outstanding, turning nine double plays while making 21 putouts and recording 27 assists in 48 total chances.
BENNY SAVES
Ben Bowden’s ninth save of the season on Tuesday pushed him into a tie with former first round pick Clinton Johnston (1998) for fifth in a single-season at Vanderbilt. Bowden’s 11 career saves have him in a tie with Navery Moore and Mark Bode for seventh all-time at VU. Brian Miller holds both the single-season (16 in 2013) and career records (26).
FINDING THE RIGHT SPOT
Jeren Kendall has felt comfortable in any spot in Tim Corbin’s lineup this year but the sophomore has really enjoyed the leadoff spot, going 14-for-31 (.452) with 11 runs scored, three home runs and 10 RBI in seven games. Kendall has led off in each of the last two games going 4-for-9 (.444) with three RBI and two runs scored, including a three-hit game on Tuesday.