NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt used a four-run eighth inning to rally by No. 17 Georgia 5-3 Sunday afternoon at Hawkins Field and clinch the three-game series.
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Commodores (9-15, 2-4) put together a two-out rally started by Conrad Gregor’s RBI-single that scored Tony Kemp, who had led off with a single, and tied the game. A walk to Spencer Navin and two wild pitches put runners on the corners for Vince Conde. The freshman delivered in a big way with a two-run triple over the center fielder’s head to put the Dores up 4-2. Georgia’s third wild pitch of the inning scored Conde from third base and gave Vandy a three-run cushion heading into the ninth. Georgia (17-8, 3-3) made it interesting in the final frame, getting the first two men on base before a double play killed the momentum and eventually scoring a run with two outs.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the fourth inning when Kyle Farmer blasted a leadoff home run to start the frame and reclaimed the lead in the seventh on Farmer’s RBI-groundout. The Commodores immediately tied the game after falling behind in the fourth after Farmer’s home run, scoring a run on three hits with Conde’s single driving in a run. Conde finished the day with two hits and a career-high three RBI to lead the Dores and break out of a 1-for-19 slump. Farmer paced Georgia’s 10-hit attack with three hits and three RBI.
Drew VerHagen (3-2) picked up the win in relief working the final 2.2 innings for his third win of the year. The big right-hander allowed one run on four hits and three walks in closing out the Commodores’ first Southeastern Conference series victory. Bryan Benzor (3-1) took the loss giving up four runs on three hits and three wild pitches while recording two outs. Vanderbilt junior Will Clinard made only his second career start and first since 2010, pitching four solid innings and allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Three freshman pitchers (Philip Pfeifer, Brian Miller, Jared Miller) and a sophomore (Steven Rice) combined for 2.1 innings of scoreless relief for the Dores. Georgia starter Pete Nagel allowed one run on three hits over four frames.
Vanderbilt returns to action against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
