April 22, 2007
Game Recap Plus Audio: Vanderbilt 7 Tennessee 6
Weekend Sweep of Tennessee is One for the Books
By Will Matthews
 |
|
NASHVILLE – When Vanderbilt fell into a 5-0 third inning hole Sunday afternoon in the third and final game of its weekend series against rival Tennessee, a feeling of déjàvu could have enveloped the Hawkins Field faithful.
The Commodores had, after all, blown their previous two opportunities to complete weekend sweeps of SEC foes this year.
But on a sparkling afternoon that capped one of the most memorable weekends of Vanderbilt baseball in recent memory – a weekend that included three consecutive sellouts, a three-day Hawkins Field attendance record and, entering Sunday, consecutive hard-fought wins over the Vols – there was a sense that somehow this day would be different.
And when Ryan Davis roped a pinch hit single down the right field line to score Pedro Alvarez with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, it was indeed different.
Vanderbilt had completed its first three-game sweep of Tennessee since 2003, bagged its first sweep of an SEC opponent since March of 2006, buried any remaining bad feelings from dropping consecutive games during the midweek and secured its hold of first place in the SEC East.
“This was definitely something special,” said Vanderbilt shortstop Ryan Flaherty. “I have never been a part of a weekend like this with the crowd and everything. It was definitely the best weekend that I have been a part of so far.”
Almost 7,500 fans were on hand during the weekend to witness it all, from David Price’s Friday night gem, to Casey Weathers’ throwing 1.1 innings of relief to nail down Saturday night’s 4-3 win to Davis’ heroics Sunday – a fact not lost on the Commodores.
“I could tell that there were more people than usual,” said Weathers, who picked up two saves and a win in the three games. “I love it when the fans are on their feet and they are ready and they are behind me. It just gives you that extra edge. When you have eight guys behind you and that ninth guy in the stands, that is real good stuff to have. It is good support for us.”
The Commodores had to display Sunday the resiliency that has become a hallmark of this club in order to earn the previously elusive series sweeping win. Sunday marked the 21st time this year that Vanderbilt won a game in which they have trailed and the fifth time they have erased a deficit of three runs or more.
“As down as we might have been being down five like that we knew we were coming and we had confidence,” Flaherty said. “We just had confidence and that is the best way to describe it. Pitchers and everyone were confident that we were going to come back and win it with the bats.”
For Corbin, the difference that a weekend can make cannot be understated. The fiery coach was undeniably frustrated following Wednesday’s loss to Middle Tennessee State – a loss that came on the heels of a loss to Lipscomb the previous night. Just like his team, he acted like a man who had just been granted new life Sunday, however.
“It is like who, what? I don’t even remember what happened earlier this week now,” Corbin said. “I was punching pillows all Wednesday night and I am not going to do that tonight.”
Will Matthews spent three years as an investigative reporter with the Los Angeles Newspaper Group in Southern California. He is currently in his third year at Vanderbilt Divinity School. To e-mail Will your feedback, Click Here
