NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt dropped the first game of the series to No. 4 Texas 11-4 on Friday evening at Hawkins Field.
The Longhorns used a five-run fifth inning to build an 11-0 lead and weathered a Vanderbilt rally in the seventh to win the series opener.
Texas starting pitcher Dylan Volantis kept the Commodore offense in check, going 6.0 innings with one run allowed on four hits while striking out 11.
Vanderbilt got on the board in the sixth with an RBI single by Colin Barczi to score Mike Mancini.
Vandy clawed back in the seventh with a leadoff double by Rustan Rigdon followed by a two-run home run off the bat of Korbin Reynolds, his fifth of the season.
After a groundout, Mancini went deep to right, his 13th on the year and ninth in SEC action.
The Dores would load the bases with two outs but were unable to scratch any closer.
Aiden Robbins, Adrian Rodriguez and Josh Livingston drove in three runs each for the Longhorns with Rodriguez collecting three hits on the night.
Vanderbilt (25-18, 9-10 SEC) and No. 4 Texas (31-8, 12-6 SEC) will meet at 7 p.m. on Saturday for the second game of the series.
