NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 9-5 win over South Carolina to clinch a series win at Hawkins Field on Friday.
The Commodores plated six runs in the bottom of the first off six hits and an error. All six hits were singles with Braden Holcomb, Tommy Goodin and Rustan Rigdon tallying three consecutive run-scoring hits.
The bottom of the first was capped by Rigdon stealing home as Vandy took a 6-0 advantage.
Chris Maldonado doubled with one out in the third and came around to score on a double by Ryker Waite to put the Dores in front by a touchdown.
South Carolina got on the board in the top of the fourth, plating three runs on four hits and an error.
The score remained 7-4 until the top of the seventh when the Gamecocks clawed closer. Luke Yuhasz doubled home a run and Tyler Bak drove in another on a single to cut Vandy’s lead down to two.
Waite led off the bottom of the eighth with a double to left-center. Mike Mancini and Brodie Johnston each worked walks to load the bases. Logan Johnstone added an insurance run with a sac fly to score Waite and Mancini touched home on a fielder’s choice as the Commodores extended their lead to 9-5.
Wyatt Nadeau, who entered the game in the eighth, shut the door in the ninth to earn his first collegiate save.
Holcomb went 3-for-5 at the dish with two RBI to pace the offense. Waite, Mancini, Goodin and Maldonado tallied two hits apiece.
Vanderbilt and South Carolina will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday to close out the series and the regular season before both sides head to Hoover, Alabama, for the SEC Tournament next week.
