NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Matt Meingasner had four hits and six RBI to lead Vanderbilt to a 15-7 win over Belmont Wednesday afternoon at Greer Stadium.
The Commodores (19-0) won their fourth straight over the Bruins (10-5) in their first game at Greer Stadium since the 2001 season.
Vanderbilt led 9-2 in the fifth before Belmont scored the next five runs in the game, capped off by a three-run homer by Derek Wiley in the seventh to cut the lead to 9-7.
The Commodores then responded with six runs in the top of the eighth to put the game away. David Macias and Dominic de la Osa had back-to-back walks with two outs and scored on a RBI double by Pedro Alvarez to make it 11-7. Ryan Flaherty walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Shea Robin brought them in with a single up the middle. Andrew Giobbi was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced again on a wild pitch before Meingasner came through with a two-run single to center to make it 15-7.
“The momentum switched, you could definitely feel it,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin when talking about Belmont’s seventh inning rally. “Macias’ walk was huge after the two strikeouts and then Dom walked and Pedro came up with the big hit to take the pressure off. Shea’s hit was good too as was Meingasner’s. Our offense came through today when we needed it.”
Meingasner staked VU to a 2-0 lead in the second with a homer to left, his second circuit clout of the year.
Belmont rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by Brandon McCall and a RBI groundout by Brady Manifold.
Dominic de la Osa got the lead back in the third with a solo homer to left, his fourth of the year. VU added three more runs in the fourth as Shea Robin, Andrew Giobbi, Matt Meingasner and Alex Feinberg started the inning off with consecutive singles. Brad French reached on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded and David Macias added a groundout RBI to make it 6-2.
The ‘Dores added three more in the fifth to make it 9-2. Meingasner had a RBI single and Brad French added a two-run double to key the inning.
Shea Robin had three hits and Alex Feinberg had two to help lead the way.
Cody Crowell (1-0) pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts to pick up his first win of the year. Mike Minor gave up two runs on four hits in four innings in the start with one strikeout and two walks.
The Commodores will be back at Hawkins Field this weekend to open up SEC play. Vanderbilt will take on Ole Miss on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Vanderbilt 021 330 060 – 15 14 1
Belmont 020 020 300 – 7 9 3
Minor, Rhoden (5), Crowell (7), Cotham (9) and Robin. Meador, Diaz (4), Stanley (5), Paetznik (6), Moffitt (8), Manning (8) and Manifold. W- Crowell 1-0, L- Meador 2-2. Sv- None . HRs: UIC: Wiley (4) . VU: Meingasner (2), de la Osa (4).
