May 4, 2016
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Vanderbilt used a pair of three-run rallies to beat Western Kentucky 6-1 on Tuesday. Julian Infante drove in three runs with two hits in Matt McGarry’s first career win. The Commodores finished off the team’s fifth series sweep of the season on Sunday with a 10-3 win over Georgia. Jeren Kendall and Ethan Paul drove in three runs each as the Dores hit a season-high four home runs. Vanderbilt claimed the series on Saturday with a 10-3 victory vs. Georgia. Will Toffey scored three runs and collected three hits in Kyle Wright’s fifth win of the year. The Commodores jumped on Georgia early en route to a 15-3 series opening win. Jordan Sheffield turned in his third straight scoreless outing with seven innings for his seventh win.
ON THE BUMP
Thursday, May 5
RHP Jordan Sheffield (7-2, 2.29) vs. RHP Turner Larkins (2-0, 2.00)
Friday, May 6
RHP Kyle Wright (5, 2.11-3) vs. RHP Brigham Hill (5-0, 2.03)
Saturday, May 7
TBA vs. RHP Kyle Simonds (7-1, 2.83)
AGGIELAND FOR THE FIRST TIME
Vanderbilt visits Texas A&M for the first time ever this weekend. The Commodores and Aggies split games in the Southeastern Conference tournament last season with Texas A&M winning the first game 6-1 and the Dores avenging the loss with a 12-1 victory in the semifinals. Vandy and A&M last met in a regular season series in 2014 – the only time the two teams have played a regular season series – with the Aggies taking two-of-three at Hawkins Field. Vanderbilt is 3-4 all-time vs. Texas A&M.
GOOD HANDS TEAM
The Commodores’ defense has been in good hands over the last eight games making just two errors to field .993 as a team. Both errors the Dores have committed have been made by Julian Infante with the freshman being called for obstruction at Tennessee at first base for one error and the second coming on a throw with the first baseman seeing his first career action at third base against Georgia last weekend. VU has also turned eight double plays during the stretch in which the team is 6-2.
THRICE IS NICE FOR SHEFFIELD
For the third time this season Jordan Sheffield has been named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week. The right-hander’s latest accolade comes on the heels of his stellar outing against Georgia last week. Sheffield turned in seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts while scattering seven singles to earn his team-best seventh win of the year. With his seven scoreless innings against the Bulldogs, Sheffield carries a 24-inning scoreless streak into his start at No. 2 Texas A&M on Thursday. Sheffield’s 24-inning streak matches Carson Fulmer’s scoreless inning streak from last season when the National Pitcher of the Year also turned in three straight scoreless outings.
OFFENSIVE SWITCH
The Vanderbilt offense flipped the switch last week, hitting .343 and outscoring the team’s two opponents 43-14. The Commodores slugged six home runs to go along with 11 doubles and four triples. Vandy added six runs on eight hits Tuesday night against Western Kentucky to bring the team’s average to .327 and outscoring teams 49-15 over the last five games. The previous week (4/19-24) the Dores hit just .224 and outscored teams 18-13.
DORES ON TV
Beginning Thursday night at No. 2 Texas A&M, the Commodores begin a streak of seven consecutive games on national television. All three games of the Dores’ first trip to Aggieland will be televised with Thursday night’s game airing on ESPN2 and the final two games of the series showing on SEC Network. The Battle of the Barrel against No. 9 Louisville next Tuesday will be broadcast on the SEC Network as the Commodores first-ever midweek game to be broadcast on the Network. Next weekend’s trip to No. 1 Florida will feature games on SEC Network (Friday and Sunday) and ESPN2 (Saturday) along with the SEC Network’s SEC Now show on site.
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 (39G/30GS) and Alonzo Jones (35G/34GS) have seen the most action in the lineup over the course of the year with Patrick Raby (11GS/7G), Evan Steele (11G/0GS) and Chandler Day (8G/3GS) seeing the most action on the mound. The Commodores featured a season-high six freshmen in the starting lineup against Austin Peay on April 26 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 .298 (115-for-387) with 88 runs scored and 85 RBI. The freshmen pitchers are a combined 10-1 with 102 strikeouts over 90.0 innings.