Shutout in the Swamp

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – JD Thompson, Miller Green and Sawyer Hawks combined for a 6-0, shutout win at Florida on Friday night at Condron Ballpark.

Thompson blanked the Gators over the first 4.2 innings before handing the ball to Green who recorded the final out in the fifth. Hawks took over in the sixth and shut Florida down over the final four frames, striking out six to earn his third save on the season.

RJ Austin opened the scoring with a two-out RBI triple in the top of the third, bringing Mike Mancini home all the way from first. Austin has four triples this season, the most by a Commodore since Enrique Bradfield Jr. hit five in 2022.

The middle of the order delivered again with more two-out hitting in the top of the fifth. Rustan Rigdon reached on a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt. With two outs, Austin lined a double to the left-center gap to bring home Rigdon.

Riley Nelson then sent a single back up the middle to score Austin and give Vanderbilt a 3-0 lead.

The Commodores took their three-run lead to the eighth before tagging the Florida bullpen for three runs on two hits to double the advantage.

Jonathan Vastine worked a leadoff walk to start the eighth and stole second. Jacob Humphrey walked with one out and Mancini singled back up the middle to score Vastine and move Humphrey to third.

Mancini stole second and with two outs, Nelson tallied his third hit on the night, a two-run single to right to make it 6-0.

Nelson reached base all five trips to the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of walks.

Friday’s shutout was Vanderbilt’s first against an SEC opponent since Missouri in 2023. It was Vandy’s sixth shutout against the Gators since 2014 and first shutout in Gainesville since 2016.

Vandy’s five shutouts is most in the SEC. The Dores entered Friday with the eighth most shutouts in Division I.

Vanderbilt and Florida meet again Saturday at noon CT for Game 2.