COACH CORBIN QUOTE: “Ben has grown in every way since arriving on campus. I love his tenacity, his spirit, his personality and especially his love for this program. After gaining great experience in his freshman year, Ben took on a great deal of pitching responsibility last year, pitching in some very crucial situations. He has the ability to succeed in many roles and when it matters most. We will count on him in a big way.”
2016 – Picked in the second round (45th overall) of MLB Draft by Colorado… Gave up three runs, one earned, on three hits over 1.1 innings of relief against Texas A&M 5/27, matches most runs allowed as a reliever this season… Recorded his 10th save of the season by recording the final five outs against Auburn 4/21 to finish sweep, 10 saves are tied with Carson Fulmer (2014) for fourth in a single-season at Vanderbilt all-time… Struck out the side in one inning of win over Auburn G2 5/19… Struck out two in one inning of work at Florida 5/15… Allowed a run for the third time in five outings, giving up a run on two hits against Louisville 5/10… Gave up a run on three hits in ninth inning against Texas A&M 5/6… Struck out two in a perfect ninth inning against Western Kentucky 5/3… Nailed down his ninth save of the season vs. Austin Peay 4/26 working around a walk and a double in a scoreless ninth… Pegged with his first loss of the year allowing three runs in the sixth inning at Tennessee 4/24, snapping 13.1 scoreless innings since move to bullpen 3/25… Saved his eighth game of the year working around a pair of singles with two strikeouts vs. Central Arkansas 4/19… Worked his ninth straight scoreless appearance (12.1 IP) since moving to the bullpen with a scoreless inning vs. Kentucky 4/17… Finished off his seventh save working a scoreless ninth inning win against Kentucky 4/16… Recorded his sixth straight save since moving to bullpen in late March turning in two scoreless innings at LSU 4/9… Gave up three hits and struck out two in a scoreless inning at LSU 4/8 at LSU… Closed down his fifth straight save working out of a two on, no out jam in ninth inning vs. Lipscomb 4/5… Recorded his team-leading fourth save of the season with 2.1 scoreless innings against South Carolina 4/2 punching out six and stranding two runners… Worked two scoreless innings to earn his third straight save in win vs. South Carolina… Notched his second save in as many days in win at Missouri 3/26 working a 1-2-3 inning… Recorded his first save of the season in win at Missouri 3/25 working a scoreless ninth inning… Tossed five innings for the fifth straight start but did not factor into the decision vs. Mississippi State 3/19 allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts… Picked up his second win of the year allowing two runs on six hits over five innings vs. Xavier 3/12 striking out six… Earned his first win of the season with five solid innings at Stanford 3/3 in the second game of DH allowing one unearned run on two hits… Matched a career-best with eight strikeouts over five-plus innings in no decision against UIC 2/27 allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits… Made his first career start against San Diego 2/20 allowing five runs in a career-high five-plus innings of a no decision.
2015 – Picked up the win with two scoreless innings against Indiana 5/30 in NCAA Tournament striking out four… Gave up two runs on four hits over 2.1 innings in SEC Tournament championship game against Florida 5/24, longest outing since 3/14… Worked the final 1.1 innings of loss at Alabama 5/16 striking out two and not allowing a run stranding the bases loaded in eighth inning… Allowed two runs on three hits over 1.1 innings of relief vs. Florida 5/9 marking the second time in three outings to allow two runs… Recorded the final four outs at Kentucky 5/3 to notch his second save of the season, retiring all four batters he faced… Gave up two runs on two hits and a hit batter at Belmont 4/28 while recording just one out… Worked two scoreless innings to notch his fifth win of the season against Missouri 4/26 striking out four… Walked in the go-ahead run in seventh inning in loss at South Carolina 4/17 allowing one run on three hits over 1.2 innings… Tossed two scoreless innings against Ole Miss 4/11… Entered and recorded the final five outs to finish win at Georgia 4/4 allowing one of two inherited runners to score… Recorded his first career save against Wofford 4/1 striking out two in one inning of work… Finished off series-clinching win vs. Tennessee 3/29 with a scoreless ninth inning… Tossed a scoreless ninth inning at MTSU 3/24… Picked up his team-best fourth win of the season despite blowing the save and giving up three runs in the ninth inning at Auburn 3/21 in second game of doubleheader… Punched out six over three scoreless innings to earn the win vs. Arkansas in game one of DH 3/14… Struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning vs. Quinnipiac 3/11… Pinned with his first career loss giving up a home run in the bottom of the ninth at USC 3/7… Dominated over three scoreless innings to earn his second win of the year vs. Illinois State 3/1 striking out a career-best eight… Worked a perfect ninth inning to finish win over Western Kentucky 2/25… Struck out the side in the ninth to clinch the series vs. Indiana State 2/22 in Port Charlotte, Fla. and preserve the Dores’ second shutout of the season… Earned his first collegiate win against Indiana State 2/20 in Port Charlotte, Fla. stranding the bases loaded by recording the final two outs of the ninth inning… Turned in three solid innings in his season debut against Santa Clara 2/14 allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits.
2014 – Needed just one pitch to get out of a two runners on jam in College World Series debut vs. Virginia 6/24… Walked one and recorded one out in SEC Tournament loss to Ole Miss 5/22… Entered with the bases loaded and threw one pitch against South Carolina 5/17 allowing one run to score… Gave up a solo home run in his one inning of work at Florida 5/10… Pitched one scoreless inning against Georgia 4/26… Needed just one pitch to get one out in the eighth inning at Arkansas 4/19… Worked a 1-2-3 inning against Texas A&M 4/11… Turned in a scoreless inning at Tennessee 4/6… Struck out two in one scoreless inning vs. UT-Martin 4/1… Made his SEC debut at Mississippi State 3/21 allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 1.1 innings… Punched out two in a scoreless inning of relief vs. Winthrop… Made his collegiate debut with two scoreless innings vs. UIC 2/2 allowing one hit, one walk and striking out one.
HIGH SCHOOL – The 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts while playing at Lynn English HS… A three-time Lynn Item All-Star and two-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic selection… Pitched in both the East Coast Pro and Area Code Games… Captained the baseball team for three years and the basketball team for one… Basketball team advanced to the Eastern Massachusetts finals… Played summer ball for the North East Rays and the Boston Astros.
ACADEMICS – Majoring in sociology.
PERSONAL – Benjamin Douglas Bowden (BO-den)… Born 10/21/94 in Lynn, Mass…. Son of Larry and Stephanie Bowden… Has two sisters, Jackie and Jillian… Favorites include Pedro Martinez (baseball player), Boston Red Sox (baseball team), Step Brothers, Conjuring, The Town and Ted (movies), Family Guy and Survivorman (TV shows), mom’s homemade mac ‘n’ cheese (meal)… Says he would be a coach if not an athlete… Jim Carrey would play him in a movie… Roommates with Tristan Chari and Will Toffey… Chose Vanderbilt because it’s “the top baseball program in the country, in the best league with the best coaches, staff and academics.”