SAN DIEGO – The fourth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores opened the season with a 4-3 win over the University of San Diego in a rain shortened five-inning game Friday afternoon at Cunningham Stadium.
The Commodores jumped out to an early lead in the first inning scoring three runs just to see the Toreros answer with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The Dores quickly loaded the bases in the top of the first with freshman Tony Kemp drawing a leadoff walk, Jason Esposito being hit by a pitch and Aaron Westlake’s single. Sam Lind drove in Kemp with a single and Anthony Gomez made it 2-0 with another single. Mike Yastrzemski then capped the rally with a single to score Westlake. The Toreros rallied for all three of their runs in the first with two outs off Vandy starter Sonny Gray. The Dores pulled ahead in the third inning when Gomez singled and came around to score on Connor Harrell’s single up the middle.
Gomez finished the day with two hits while Kemp scored two runs and stole a base from the leadoff spot for the Commodores. Zack Kometani had the Toreros big hit in the first with a two-run double.
The two teams battled rain off and on all day before the game was eventually called in the sixth inning after a RBI-triple from Esposito. The game was reverted back to the end of the fifth inning for an official game.
Will Clinard picked up the win in relief recording the final two outs for VU. San Diego starter Chris Jensen was pegged with the loss allowing four runs on six hits with five walks. Gray pitched 4.1 innings giving up three runs on four hits with six strikeouts. The right-hander did not allow another hit after the first inning.
The Dores are scheduled to play two games tomorrow against San Diego State and San Diego at Tony Gwynn Field. VU will play the Toreros tomorrow at 5 p.m. CT and the Aztecs at 9 p.m. CT. Senior Taylor Hill will start for the Commodores against right-hander Calvin Drummond. In the nightcap, freshman Kevin Ziomek gets the ball for the Dores against SDSU’s Ethan Miller.
