NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt scored twice in the bottom of the ninth Saturday to defeat Gonzaga, 4-3, at Hawkins Field.
After falling behind 3-0 in the third inning, Vanderbilt shutout the Bulldogs over the final six frames and chipped away at the deficit, scoring once in the fourth, once in the seventh and twice in the ninth to win Game 2 and secure the series.
Camden Kozeal provided Vanderbilt with its second walk-off of the 2024 season. Jonathan Vastine, who hit Vandy’s first walk-off on Opening Day, led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to center field as the Dores trailed 3-2.
Vastine moved to second on a wild pitch and Jack Bulger ripped a single up the middle to score Vastine and tie the game at 3-3. Jacob Humphrey pinch ran for Bulger at first base and took two bases on a throwing error by the Gonzaga pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt.
With one out and the winning run on third, Kozeal fell behind 0-2 before sending the game-winning base hit back up the middle with Humphrey touching home for the 4-3 victory.
Whistle. 🔊
Whistle. 🔊
Walk-off. 👊 pic.twitter.com/vz9uEQSn1W— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) February 24, 2024
Walk-off winner at The Hawk‼️
🔒 @camden_kozeal#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/PLealtR8l7
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) February 24, 2024
Vandy used three pitchers in the win with each tossing three innings. Bryce Cunningham got the start and struck out seven but Gonzaga took advantage of a pair of walks and a double to push three runs across in the top of the third.
Ethan McElvain took over on the mound in the fourth and struck out six over three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.
The Commodores entered the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth. Alan Espinal worked a one-out walk and Troy LaNeve brought Espinal home with a two-out double down the right field line.
Brennan Seiber (W, 1-0) relieved McElvain to start the seventh inning and allowed just two baserunners over the final three frames en route to his first career win. Seiber has pitched three scoreless innings in each of his first two collegiate appearances, earning a three-inning save last Sunday before getting the win on Saturday.
Vandy cut Gonzaga’s lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh. Vastine singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a single by RJ Austin.
With Saturday’s win, Vanderbilt improves to 5-2 on the season and will look for a series sweep Sunday against Gonzaga at 1 p.m. on SEC Network +.
