NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Andrew Giobbi’s RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted Vanderbilt to a 2-1 win over Austin Peay Tuesday evening at Hawkins Field.
Bryan Johns led off the 11th with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brian Harris. Jason Esposito was intentionally walked and Austin Peay then made a pitching change, as Zach Gerler replaced Matt Marsh. Gerler got Aaron Westlake to pop out, before Giobbi delivered the game winning single to right on an 0-1 pitch.
The Commodores improved to 4-0 on the season, while the Governors fell to 2-2.
The teams were locked in a pitchers duel through the first four innings before the Governors got on the board in the fifth when Adam Browett doubled with one out and later scored on a RBI single by Reed Harper.
Riley Reynolds sacrifice fly RBI with the bases loaded in the seventh scored Jason Esposito to tie the game at 1-1. Esposito led off the inning with a single and Giobbi’s single with one out moved him to second. Curt Casali was then hit by a pitch to load the bases before Reynolds fly ball to center scored Esposito.
VU got out of a jam in the top of the eighth when Reed Harper reached on a fielding error by Casali at first. Harper then advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third when catcher Andrew Giobbi’s throw down to second was not caught and sailed into the outfield. Reliever Drew Hayes got Nick Hathcoat to ground out weakly to first on a drawn in infield for the first out. Richie Goodenow came on in relief to face a left-handed pinch-hitter but Austin Peay head coach Gary McClure lifted the pinch-hitter for right-handed Daniel Baggett. Goodenow struck Baggett out and then got Jon Clinard to ground out to second to end the scoring threat.
Russell Brewer (1-0) pitched two and a third innings of one-hit scoreless relief with three strikeouts to pick up the win.
AP starter David Vicini allowed just two hits in five innings of work with two walks for Austin Peay in the no-decision.
VU starter Chase Reid allowed one run on three hits in six innings with five strikeouts and a walk in the no-decision.
“I just went out there and tried to keep my pitch count down and let them put the ball in play and my defense played well behind me,” said Reid of his outing.
Corey Williams and Drew Hayes each recorded two-outs in relief while Goodenow pitched an inning and a third of hitless relief with three strikeouts. In all Commodore pitchers combined to strike out 13 batters and allowed just one walk.
“I thought Chase pitched well tonight,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “Originally he was going to throw 50 pitches but he was rolling along and we just let him go and I thought we took him out at the perfect time. I thought D.J. (Derek Johnson) did a nice job of handling the bullpen and getting guys ready to go when they needed to go.”
Jason Esposito, Andrew Giobbi and Bryan Johns each had two hits, accounting for all of VU’s hits in the game.
The Commodores will be back in action this weekend in Los Angeles to take on UCLA, USC and Oklahoma State in the first annual Dodgertown Classic. VU will fly to the West Coast early Thursday morning and practice at UCLA in the afternoon. The Dores will face the Bruins on Friday at 8 p.m. CT, and will then take on USC on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. CT. VU will then close out the trip with a noon CT game against Oklahoma State at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
Austin Peay 000 010 000 00 -1 6 0
Vanderbilt 000 000 100 01 -2 6 2
Vicini, Davis (6), Marsh (8), Gerler (11) and Lucas. Reid, Williams (7), Hayes (7), Goodenow (8), Brewer (9) and Giobbi. W- Brewer 1-0, L- Marsh 1-1. Sv- None. HR: None.
