NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A strong offensive effort powered the Vanderbilt baseball team to a 10-7 victory over Army on Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Field. With the win, the Commodores claim the weekend series, while improving to 4-2 on the season.
True freshman Carter Holton (1-0) was impressive in his second collegiate start. The lefty picked up his first career win, throwing six strong innings for the Commodores. Holton struck out six while allowing two earned runs on two hits in his first career quality start.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. jumpstarted the Vanderbilt offense in the bottom of the first with a bunt single. He then stole second and third on consecutive pitches and scored the game’s first run on a fielding error by the Army third baseman.
Dominic Keegan made it 3-0 in the first with a two-run shot to right-center, marking his first longball of the season and his 16th career home run.
With two on and one out in the second, Bradfield collected his second hit of the day with a single up the middle to score Tate Kolwyck from second and put Vandy in front 4-0.
Army got on the board in the third with a leadoff double from Cam Cerruto. Cerruto moved to third on a sac bunt and scored on a groundout, cutting Vanderbilt’s lead to 4-1.
Troy LaNeve pushed the lead back to four with a sac fly in to bottom of the fourth to score Carter Young.
The Commodores pulled away on a bases-loaded triple from Young in the bottom of the fifth. Young then came home on a groundout to make it 9-1, Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt went to its bench in the bottom of the seventh, sending four straight pinch-hitters to the plate. Calvin Hewett took first after being hit by a pitch, then Gavin Casas singled to right to put runners on the corners for Matthew Polk.
Polk, making his collegiate debut, sent the first pitch he saw back up the middle to score Hewett and put Vanderbilt on top 10-2.
Christian Little worked two innings in relief, allowing one earned while striking out three.
Army mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth, scoring four runs, but Jack Anderson closed things out for the 10-7 Vanderbilt victory.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hawkins Field with action airing live on SEC Network +.
