NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt baseball shutout LMU 2-0 Saturday to take the first two games of the series at Hawkins Field.
Vanderbilt starting pitcher Hunter Owen (W, 1-0) threw six scoreless frames to earn his first win on the season. Nick Maldonado (S, 3) struck out a pair of batters in a hitless ninth inning to close the door.
With his 12th career save Saturday, Maldonado moves into a tie for seventh in program history, matching Ben Bowden (2014-16) and Russell Brewer (2008-10).
Bryce Cunningham worked the seventh and eighth innings for the Dores and did not allow a hit while tallying three strikeouts.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. provided the only run support needed with a two-run double in the third. Parker Noland led off the frame with a single and Jack Bulger worked a walk. Matthew Polk then laid down a sac bunt to move the pair of runners into scoring position for Bradfield.
Two-RBI double courtesy of @EBradfield20. 👏#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/w4emn101g8
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 11, 2023
Bradfield laced a double to the left-center gap to bring home Noland and Bulger and put Vandy on top 2-0. Bradfield has an RBI in three consecutive games.
Vandy’s pitching staff owns a 0.49 ERA over the last 55 innings. The Dores have allowed just three runs over the span while totaling 71 strikeouts.
Sunday’s series finale is set for a 1 p.m. start on SEC Network+.
