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Vanderbilt Defeats UT-Martin in Come-From-Behind Win, 6-5 3/17/2004
Vanderbilt Defeats UT-Martin in Come-From-Behind Win, 6-5 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt Commodores scored four unanswered runs in the final three innings to come from behind and defeat UT-Martin 6-5 at Hawkins Field today. The Commodores improve to 14-2, while UT-Martin owns a 4-12 record. With the score tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, junior shortstop Ryan Klosterman hit a single to right field to drive in junior third baseman Tony Mansolino for the game winning run. Mansolino reached base on a single to left field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior right fielder Worth Scott. Senior catcher Jonathan Douillard was intentionally walked which brought Klosterman to the plate. The Commodores tied the game in the eighth inning when Klosterman scored from second when UT-Martin freshman pitcher Adam Ledlow was charged with two consecutive balks. “The pitcher never came set,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin said. “He was a freshman in a tight situation. It was the right call, but it was just unfortunate for him. It’s a virute of having fast, athletic kids on the basepaths.” “People do that all the time and it isn’t that important until something like this happens,” Klosterman said. “I took a couple of hard steps toward the plate and just figured I would see what happened. Fortunately for us he moved and we got the run home.” Vanderbilt cut UT-Martin’s lead to one, 5-4, in the bottom of the seventh scoring two runs. Sophomore second baseman Warner Jones extended his consecutive game hit streak to 23 games when he doubled to right center field. Sophomore first baseman Mike Baxter drew a walk and Mansolino reached base on an error by Douglas Nicodemus loading the bases. All Commodores were safe and Jones scored when Scott’s hard hit ball was fielded by the Skyhawk’s second baseman Bryan Jones and dropped after a collision with Mansolino. UT-Martin took the first lead of the game in the third inning when Jones scored after reaching base on a double. The Commodores answered with a run in their half of the inning when Klosterman scored on a single to left field by senior DH Cesar Nicolas. Both teams added a run in the fourth inning and UT-Martin took the lead in the fifth inning, 3-2 Sophomore right-hander Matt Buschmann got the decision for the Commodores going 2.1 scoreless innings giving up two hits. Tyler Rhoden, a freshman right-hander, started the game for the Commodores going five innings and giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits and striking out four. Freshman left-hander Stephen Shao went 1.2 innings and gave up two runs (both earned) and struck out three. The Commodores committed three errors in the contest, including uncharacteristic bobbles from Klosterman and Jones. “Tyler Rhoden threw well enough to win the game and our defense didn’t support him,” Klosterman added. Ben Meador went six innings for the Skyhawks and gave up two runs (both earned) on eight hits while striking out three. Ledlow went 2.1 innings and gave up four runs (two earned) on three hits, while Dustin Summers ended the game going .1 inning giving up the final hit to Klosterman. The Commdores begin Southeastern Conference play this weekend when they travel to Oxford, Miss., for a three-game series with the Ole Miss Rebels. |
