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| Sophomore slugger Pedro Alvarez socked his sixth home run of the year Friday. |
NASHVILLE — Junior ace David Price struck out 13 in a complete game effort to lead Vanderbilt to a 3-2 win over Xavier Friday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The Commodores improved to 12-0 on the year, tying the best start in school history set in 2005. The Muskeeters fell to 1-8 with the loss.
Price (3-0) scattered seven hits over nine innings and gave up two runs with a walk and 12 strikeouts. It was the third straight game he has recorded double digit strikeouts and he moved into third place on the school’s career list with 288. Price trails Mike Willis (350) and Jeremy Sowers (327) on the list.
“I thought David was alright today,” said head coach Tim Corbin. “I liked the way he battled throughout the game and that he was able to finish it off.”
The Commodores had to rally for the eighth time in 12 games after falling behind 2-0 in the third inning. Price opened the game by striking out six of the first eight batters when Pat Coffey smoked a double to leftfield. He then scored on a triple by Jordan Wolf. Adam Posono’s double down the leftfield line brought home Wolf to make it 2-0.
VU came right back in the bottom of the stanza to tie the game, courtesy of a two-run double by Andrew Giobbi.
The Commodores then took the lead for good in the fifth when Pedro Alvarez led off the inning with a solo homer to right, his sixth of the year.
Alvarez and Giobbi led Vanderbilt with two hits each, while Matt Waskerwitz led the Muskeeters with three.
Xavier starter Michael Lucas (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on six hits in seven innings of work with five strikeouts and four walks.
The Commodores continue their three game series against Xavier Saturday at 2 p.m. Sophomore righty Nick Christiani (2-0, 2.04 ERA) is scheduled to go for VU, while righthander Bill Konecny (0-1, 1.50 ERA) is slated to pitch for XU.
Xavier 002 000 000 – 2 7 0
Vanderbilt 002 010 00x – 3 7 1
Lucas, Greenwell (9) and Wolf. Price and Robin. W- Price 3-0. L- Lucas 0-1. Sv- None. HRs: VU: Alvarez (6).
