NASHVILLE, Tenn. — David Macias’ game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted No. 1 Vanderbilt to a 7-6 win over No. 14 Ole Miss to clinch the three-game series Sunday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The Commodores rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth for the second time this weekend and improved to 21-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC with the series victory.
“Today we won in spite of ourselves,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “We made a lot of mistakes defensively early in the game. We made some mistakes late in the game and made some base running errors. But in saying all of that I don’t want to sound like the `glass is half empty’. There is some character to what the kids did.”
Ole Miss rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to take a 6-5 lead. The Commodores, as has been the case all season, did not fold and started their rally with one out in the ninth off of Rebel closer Scott Bittle.
Shea Robin grounded to shortstop Zack Cozart but first baseman Peyton Farr dropped Cozart’s throw to allow Robin to reach safely. Jonathan White then hit a chopper over Farr’s head to reach on a single. Matt Meingasner delivered his second game tying RBI single of the series. White was thrown out on the hit as he attempted to go to third for the second out of the inning. Brad French then reached on a bunt single, before David Macias ended the game with his single to right to score Meingasner.
“He threw it up there (Scott Bittle) and I was able to see it and I hit it right in the hole,” said David Macias. “It feels good. I mean I was struggling but I didn’t really try to change anything. I just kept trying to go up there and see the ball and get on base.”
Ole Miss jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second. The first run came on a solo homer by Cody Overbeck off of starter Brett Jacobson. They added an unearned run on a RBI single by Brett Basham.
Vanderbilt got on the board in the fourth on a solo homer by Matt Meingasner, his third of the year and second of the week.
The Rebels plated two more runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-1. Andrew Clark had a RBI double and also scored on a wild pitch in the frame.
The Commodores fought back to tie the game with four hits in the bottom of the inning. Alex Feinberg started the rally with a one out infield hit. Dominic de la Osa then singled to center and Pedro Alvarez walked to load the bases. Ryan Flaherty then roped a two-run double to left-center and Shea Robin followed with a RBI single through the left side to tie the game.
Vanderbilt took the lead for the first time in the game in the seventh on Jonathan White’s RBI single. Flaherty had an infield single with one out and advanced to second on a single by Robin before scoring on White’s single down the leftfield line.
The Commodores carried the lead into the ninth with closer Casey Weathers on the mound. Jordan Henry fouled off several pitches before drawing a lead off walk. His brother Justin followed with a bunt single and Jordan advanced to third on a throwing error by Pedro Alvarez. Justin Henry then scored on a wild pitch by Weathers to tie the game. Zack Cozart followed with a RBI single to center to give Ole Miss the lead.
Weathers gave up two runs on two hits in two innings of work with three strikeouts and a walk to move to 2-0.
Scott Bittle blew his second save opportunity of the weekend to drop to 1-3 on the year. He allowed two unearned runs on four hits in 0.2 innings of work.
Alex Feinberg, batting from the leadoff spot for the first time this season, came through with three hits, while Ryan Flaherty, Shea Robin, Jonathan White, Matt Meingasner and David Macias all had two hits to help lead the way.
“It’s been a great three games,” said Meingasner. “We come back to win Friday and then Sunday to take the series. There’s no putting this team down. We’re always fired up and we’re never down in the dugout.”
The Commodores will close out a string of 19 of 20 games in Nashville on Tuesday against Western Kentucky at 6 p.m. at Hawkins Field. VU will then head to Arkansas for a three-game SEC series next weekend.
Ole Miss 020 020 002 -6 13 1
Vanderbilt 000 130 102 -7 17 3
Bukvich, Satterwhite (5), Bittle (9) and Basham. Jacobson, Minor (6), Weathers (8) and Robin. W- Weathers 3-0, L- Bittle 1-3. Sv- None. HR- OM: Overbeck (4) VU: Meingasner (3).
