Vanderbilt University’s baseball team secured a 16-5 victory over Marist on Friday in Nashville, with the game ending early due to the run-rule. The Commodores scored seven runs in the eighth inning, marking their fourth run-rule win of the season.
In three home games this week, Vanderbilt has tallied 45 runs on 44 hits, including 10 home runs and six doubles. The team’s offensive strength was evident throughout Friday’s game.
After committing two errors in the first inning and allowing one run, Vanderbilt quickly responded with three runs in its half of the inning. Braden Holcomb drove in Brodie Johnston on a fielder’s choice and later scored from first base on Mack Whitcomb’s double. Max Jensen followed with a single that brought Whitcomb home.
Marist tied the game at 3-3 with solo home runs in both the second and third innings. Vanderbilt regained control in the fifth inning by scoring six runs. Holcomb hit his third home run of the season, a three-run shot to right field. Later, Logan Johnstone drew a bases-loaded walk and Johnston singled to drive in two more runs.
Marist cut into Vanderbilt’s lead with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, but pitcher England Bryan delivered two scoreless frames to earn a save.
Whitcomb opened Vanderbilt’s seventh-inning rally with his second RBI double of the game. Rustan Rigdon added an RBI single before freshman Korbin Reynolds hit his first collegiate home run—a three-run blast over left field. Ryker Waite then singled, and Johnstone capped off the game with a two-run homer.
Holcomb has gone 8-for-13 at bat during Vanderbilt’s first three home games this season, recording two homers, a double, and seven RBIs. Johnstone has contributed through walks and timely hitting despite having only two hits so far.
On the mound, starting pitcher Connor Fennell recorded seven strikeouts over five innings while allowing just two earned runs on three hits. Fennell now has 14 strikeouts over 10.1 innings for his first two starts this year.
Vanderbilt will face Marist again Saturday at Hawkins Field for Game 2 of their series.
