Vandy Falls to Trojans in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. — Vanderbilt fell 3-1 to USC at Great Park on Saturday at the Southern California College Baseball Classic.

Both teams finished with five hits each but the Trojans managed to capitalize with runners in scoring position to outduel the Commodores.

USC struck for two runs in the bottom of the third to open the scoring on an RBI double and a sac fly.

The Trojans loaded the bases twice in the bottom of the sixth, but Sawyer Hawks was able to escape the jam with just one run coming home as the Trojans took a 3-0 lead.

The Dores got on the board in the top of the seventh with the help of a defensive miscue by the Trojans. Jayden Davis reached on a throwing error to start the frame and David Mendez came on as a pinch runner. Mendez moved up to second on a sac bunt and took third on a wild pitch before scoring on a groundout, cutting USC’s lead back to two.

Vanderbilt brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth but USC closed the door for the 3-1 win.

Brodie Johnston paced the offense with two of Vandy’s five hits. On the mound, Brennan Seiber threw 2.0 scoreless innings in his return to his home state and Matthew Shorey also turned in a scoreless outing, keeping UCLA off the board over the final two frames.

The Commodores wrap up their trip to California against UConn at noon CT on Sunday at Jackie Robinson Stadium.