Nashville, Tenn. — Vanderbilt used early offense to cruise to an 8-4 win over Austin Peay on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
The Commodores (27-17) scored in each of the first four innings and five of the first six to amass a 7-2 lead after six innings. The Dores scratched out single runs in the first and second innings and scored twice to take a 4-1 lead in the third. A two-out walk to Reed Hayes started the rally before Ethan Paul laced a double into the gap to chase Austin Peay (20-22) starter Caleb Powell. JJ Bleday greeted reliever John Sparks with a single to right field to score Paul. Vandy loaded the bases in the fourth inning to tack on two more runs. Julian Infante was hit by a pitch to force in the first run before Hayes’ sacrifice fly to right field plated the second run of the frame.
While the offense was steadily scoring runs, the Commodores’ pitching staff turned in a solid outing starting with Chandler Day. The right-hander did not get to start on Sunday against Tennessee due to the rainout so instead he tossed two scoreless innings on Tuesday night to pick up his seventh win of the season and match Patrick Raby for the team lead. Day navigated a one-out double in the second before handing it over to the bullpen.
Jackson Gillis and Maddux Conger each pitched two innings, allowing one run each. Drake Fellows struck out the side in his lone inning and Zach King worked a perfect eighth. Hayes came on for the ninth and recorded two quick outs before giving up two unearned runs. The right-hander closed it out with a strikeout to wrap up the victory with two runners aboard.
Infante drove in three runs in the win with Jeren Kendall and Jason Delay each adding two hits apiece. Ro Coleman scored three runs from the top of the Vandy lineup, going 1-for-3 with a double. Eight of the nine Commodores in the lineup had at least one hit with all nine reaching base safely in the win.
Powell took the loss for Austin Peay, giving up four runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. Alex Robles drove in two runs and had two hits for the Governors in the loss.
Vanderbilt hosts Missouri this weekend beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Hawkins Field.
