March 10, 2016
VANDERBILT RE-VU
Vanderbilt pitched the team’s second shutout of the season in a 12-0 win over Radford on Wednesday. Chandler Day and Joey Abraham combined to punch out 13 and limit RU to just four hits in the win. The Commodores cruised by Radford 13-4 on Tuesday. Jeren Kendall and Kyle Smith each had three hits in the victory. Vanderbilt clinched the team’s third straight series with a solid 5-2 win on Sunday at Stanford. Timely, two-out hitting from the offense led the way as Kyle Wright picked up his second straight win with five strong innings. The Commodores earned a split in an impromptu doubleheader Thursday at Stanford. Vanderbilt won the nightcap 4-1 over the Cardinal. Ben Bowden earned his first win of the year allowing only an unearned run over five innings. The Cardinal dealt VU its first loss of the season in the opener 4-1. Jordan Sheffield took the loss allowing three runs, two earned, on nine hits in five innings.
ON THE BUMP
Friday, March 11
RHP Jordan Sheffield (2-1, 1.59) vs. LHP Zac Lowther (1-1, 2.84)
Saturday, March 12
TBA vs. LHP Greg Jacknewitz (0-2, 4.41)
Sunday, March 13
TBA vs. TBA
RUNS & PUNCH OUTS, IT’S WHAT WE DO
Vanderbilt enters the weekend leading the nation in runs scored with 128 and strikeouts per nine innings with 11.3. The Commodores’ offense has been impressive early in the season, averaging 9.9 runs per game while the pitching staff has taken care of 147 outs on their own. Vanderbilt’s on-base percentage of .433 is the best in the league and ranks fifth in the country while the team’s 10 triples are tied for the most in the nation. The Commodores pitching staff has struck out more batters than any program in the nation over the last three seasons with 1,906 punch outs and counting.
HOME SWEET HAWKINS
Vanderbilt’s offense has been overwhelming inside the friendly confines of Hawkins Field through the team’s first 10 home games. The Commodores have racked up 118 runs to average 11.8 runs per game on the turf of The Hawk. The Vandy Boys are hitting .358 as a team at home this season and have scored 10-plus runs six times and no less than six runs in any home game.
WALK THIS WAY
Will Toffey has displayed big time patience at the plate so far this season with a team-best 15 walks. The Commodores’ third baseman has walked seven times over his last four games, including three two-walk games. The sophomore has drawn at least one walk in 10 of 13 games this season.
BALK THIS WAY?
The Commodores have seen an uncommon amount of balks so far this season with opposing pitchers recording 12 balks in the Dores’ first 13 games. Opposing pitchers recorded nine balks against the Commodores all of last season.
MUSKETEERS LAST STAND
Vanderbilt takes on Xavier for the first time since 2014 when the two teams met in the NCAA Regional at Hawkins Field. The Commodores blanked the Musketeers 11-0 behind a career-high 14 strikeouts from eventual first round pick Tyler Beede. Vanderbilt is 5-2 all-time vs. Xavier dating back to 1995.
