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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt rallied from an early 3-0 deficit and used a 10 strikeout performance from ace David Price to edge Pittsburgh, 4-3, in the first game of the Music City Classic Friday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The Commodores improved to 8-0 with the win, while the Panthers fell to 0-4.
Pitt jumped out to a 3-0 lead through three and a half innings of play courtesy of a RBI single by Dan Williams in the second and a two-run two-out single by Nick Mullins in the third.
VU cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the third, courtesy of a two-run single by Shea Robin. Jonathan White led off the fourth with a double and moved to third on a single by Brad French. Kurt Lipton then came through with a RBI single up the middle to tie the game. French would later score on a groundout by Alex Feinberg to give Vanderbilt a 4-3 lead it would hold the rest of the game.
Price struck out 10 and walked two in 5.2 innings of work. He gave up three runs on five hits in improving to 2-0 on the year.
“I was behind in the count all day,” said Price. “I couldn’t throw strike one or strike two very much. I found myself in a hole to the hitters and they were able to sit on fastballs and they got some good swings on me.”
Ty Davis came on in relief of Price and pitched 1.1 innings of one-hit scoreless relief.
Casey Weathers came on in the eighth and struck out the side, marking the third straight appearance in which he had done that. He had previously struck out the side in his inning of work against both Ohio and Lipscomb in his last two appearances. He then closed out the ninth with another strikeout to pick up his first save of the season.
“Today I just tried to stay within myself,” said Weathers. “It is easier to command the zone when you do that. You have got to challenge. Especially late in the game you have to come after them with your best stuff.”
Head coach Tim Corbin thought his team was fortunate to come away with the win. “I told the team, `you had better not take winning for granted because it is not that easy,’ “I don’t care who you play. It is tough to come by. We were very fortunate tonight. We got a couple of calls to help us out, too. So we were lucky. There was nothing pretty about that game.”
The Commodores will take on Ball State Saturday at 2 p.m. in the second game of the Music City Classic. Please note, VU’s game against Boston College on Sunday has been moved up an hour to a Noon start. All single-game tickets available through the month of February can be purchased for only $1. Fans can call (615) 322-GOLD for more info.
Pittsburgh 012 000 000 -3 7 0
Vanderbilt 002 200 00x -4 12 1
Nardozzi, Landis (5) and Joseph. Price, Davis (6), Weathers (8) and Robin. W- Price 2-0. L- Nardozzi 0-2. Sv- Weathers (1). HRs: None.
