TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Vanderbilt fell 11-2 at Alabama in the series opener Thursday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Alabama scored its 11 runs on 10 hits with some help from a pair of Vanderbilt defensive miscues. The Commodores were held to five hits.
Patrick Reilly totaled seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings of relief work on the mound. Carter Holton picked up the loss, his first on the season.
RJ Schreck launched his team-leading 13th home run with two outs in the first to give Vanderbilt a 1-0 lead.
Alabama loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first but only managed to push one run across, tying the game at 1-1.
The Crimson Tide loaded the bases again in the second and this time were able to capitalize as Andrew Pinckney sent a fly ball over the wall in left to put Alabama up 5-1.
Alabama added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a sac fly to go in front 6-1.
Vanderbilt pushed a run across in the top of the fifth as Jonathan Vastine started a two-out rally with a walk. Enrique Bradfield Jr. followed with a single and after Vastine took third on a wild pitch, Davis Diaz brought Vastine home on a single to left-center.
Alabama extended its lead back to five with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh. The Crimson Tide opened things up with four more runs, including a three-run homer, in the bottom of the eighth to take an 11-2 lead.
Game 2 at Alabama is set for 7 p.m. Friday night on SEC Network. Hunter Owen will get the start on the mound for Vanderbilt looking for his fourth win on the season.
