NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Reliever Patrick Reilly posted nine strikeouts across four shutout innings Friday as No. 5 Vanderbilt defeated Army 7-2 in Game 1 of a three-game series at Hawkins Field.
Reilly (1-0) earned his first win of the season, allowing just three hits across dominant outing. The sophomore has 16 strikeouts through his first two outings in 2022 which marks the most on the Vandy pitching staff.
Army went in front 1-0 in the top of the fourth on a single that deflected off Vandy starting pitcher Chris McElvain and trickled into right field allowing Army’s Sam Ruta to score from second.
The Commodores manufactured the tying run in the bottom of the inning starting with a Carter Young lead-off walk. Young stole second base and took third on a deep fly ball from Javier Vaz. Parker Noland brought Young across to score on a groundout to even things at one apiece.
Army took advantage of a Vanderbilt error to retake the lead in the fifth. Andre Walden stole second and moved up to third on a throwing error. Walden then beat the throw home on a grounder to first base, sliding around the tag to make it 2-1 Army.
McElvain’s day ended with two outs in the fifth. He struck out five while allowing two hits and no earned runs.
The Commodores struck for six runs in the sixth to take a 7-2 lead. Young got the rally going with his sixth career triple and later scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
Later in the inning with the bases loaded, an Army error at third base allowed two runs to come home giving Vanderbilt its first lead in the game.
The inning continued with back-to-back bases-loaded walks to bring in two more runs. Vanderbilt tacked on its sixth run in the frame on a fielder’s choice.
The Black Knights loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but Reilly got the game-ending strikeout to give Vanderbilt the 7-2 win.
Game 2 of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Hawkins Field with a live stream available on SEC Network +.
