Vanderbilt Commodores (11-7, 0-0 SEC) vs. #13 LSU Tigers (13-5, 0-0 SEC)
Friday @ 6 p.m. • SECN+ • 102.5 The Game
Saturday @ 7 p.m. • SEC Network • 102.5 The Game
Sunday @ 3 p.m. • ESPN2 • 102.5 The Game
SEC Opening Weekend: Vanderbilt gets conference action underway this weekend against No. 13 LSU at Hawkins Field.
- The Commodores and Tigers will be meeting for the 111th time with LSU leading the series 62-48.
- Vanderbilt won the last three-game set with LSU in 2024, taking two of three from the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Braden Holcomb homered twice in the finale, a 13-3 run-rule win.
- Vandy has won four of its last five SEC Opening Weekend series.
Power Surge: Vanderbilt’s 44 home runs are second among DI programs, trailing only Georgia’s 61.
- The Dores are slugging .624, good for second in the SEC and fifth nationally.
- Braden Holcomb leads the team with 10 long balls followed by Brodie Johnston with seven. Holcomb ranks sixth among DI players while Johnston ranks 27th.
- Holcomb’s 31 RBI are second in the SEC and fourth nationally.
- Colin Barczi belted three home runs in the season-opener against No. 10 TCU to become the first Commodore since Connor Kaiser in 2018 with a three-homer game. Barczi’s homers traveled a combined 1,340 feet with each surpassing 430 feet.
- Vanderbilt has hit four grand slams this season, already surpassing last season’s total.
- The Commodores have homered in 16 of 18 games this season.
- Vandy’s seven homers in the win over North Dakota State on March 6 was the most in a game for the Dores since 2018.
- Eight of Vanderbilt’s 11 wins have come by way of the run-rule.
SEC Player of the Week: Braden Holcomb was named the SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 24.
- The center fielder hit .579 (11-for-19) over five games with five extra-base hits and 10 RBI.
- Holcomb belted three home runs and a pair of doubles to slug 1.158. He also scored nine times and worked three walks in 19 at-bats.
- Holcomb had four multi-hit games and helped power Vandy to four consecutive run-rule wins.
Brooks Wallace Award Watch List: Ryker Waite was named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List on Wednesday.
- Waite is one of 100 shortstops on the list. He is hitting .396 through 18 games this season with eight extra-base hits, 14 RBI and 21 walks.
- The Arizona native has two homers, a triple and five doubles.
- He currently leads the team in batting average, walks and OBP while starting all 18 games at shortstop.
- The award honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year.
Walk This Way: Vanderbilt’s 107 walks ranks 18th among DI programs. The Dores own a .433 OBP, good for 26th nationally.
- Ryker Waite leads the team with 21 walks. The shortstop ranks second in the SEC and seventh nationally. Waite’s .560 OBP is sixth in the SEC.
- Second on the team in walks is Logan Johnstone with 17. Johnstone is fifth in the SEC and 28th in D1. The transfer is sporting a .487 OBP.
- After drawing 10 walks last season, Brodie Johnston has already matched that total as a sophomore.
- Speaking of getting on base, Waite has reached safely in all 18 games this season. Johnstone and Johnston have reached in 17 straight games.
Turning Two: Vanderbilt has turned 21 double plays this season, more than any SEC team.
- Only Butler (23) has more twin killings in DI.
- The Dores have at least once double play in 15 of 18 games and have recorded one in seven consecutive games.
Maldo Mash: Chris Maldonado hit his first home run since 2023 on March 4 against Troy.
- Maldonado then left the yard in three consecutive games.
- The senior missed the majority of the past two seasons due to injuries.
- He’s started 10 games at first base this season, sporting a .300 average with 10 RBI.
