NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt impressed from start to finish, scoring five runs in two different innings while a trio of arms displayed their dominance in a 15-0 victory against UMass-Lowell on Friday night at Hawkins Field.
The No. 13 Commodores (5-1) scored 15 runs for a second-straight game and received 13 hits from nine different batters in the team’s fourth-consecutive victory. Vandy set new a new season-high for RBIs (14) and cashed in on 14 walks from UMass-Lowell (2-3) pitching.
After putting the first two UMass-Lowell batters of the game aboard, Vanderbilt starter Drake Fellows (1-0) notched three-straight strikeouts en route to retiring 14 consecutive River Hawks hitters.
The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings, permitting just two hits while striking out eight. Patrick Raby followed, permitting two hits in three scoreless frames before AJ Franklin locked down the first shutout of the season by allowing just a walk in the ninth.
Vandy capitalized with two down in the second as nine-hole hitter Alonzo Jones shot a single into right field and stole second before coming home on an Austin Martin line drive single into left for the 1-0 advantage.
The Dores batted around and exploded for five runs in the fourth, helped by five UMass-Lowell walks. Three Vanderbilt runs scored via the free pass and another courtesy of a balk.
In the frame, Ethan Paul roped a double off the wall in left, plating Martin (walk) and Jones (double). Vandy added on an inning later, scoring three more on back-to-back doubles from Kaiser and Paul. The one-two punch combined to contribute six RBIs and three runs as part of the third multi-RBI performance for both hitters in the first six games of the season.
Pinch-hitter JJ Bleday belted his third career home run in the seventh and was one of six reserves to score a run. Bleday was also one of four hitters to produce a two-hit performance, including Jones who added a team-best three runs.
The teams return to action on Saturday afternoon for the middle game of the three-game series with first pitch set for noon. Vanderbilt left-hander Zach King (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will make his second career start against UMass-Lowell’s Jack Riley (0-0, 5.40 ERA).
