Vanderbilt defeated Middle Tennessee 9-1 at Hawkins Field on April 28. Freshman pitcher Connor Hamilton led Vanderbilt with six innings, allowing only one run on six hits and recording seven strikeouts without a walk.
The game was notable as Vanderbilt scored in each of the first four innings and hit three home runs. The team now has 93 home runs this season, which is the second most in program history. The current record is held by the 2019 squad, which hit 100 home runs.
In the first inning, Ryker Waite singled to right field and later scored from first base after Mike Mancini doubled to left-center. A sacrifice fly by Colin Barczi brought in another run for Vanderbilt. Tommy Goodin added to the lead in the second inning with his tenth home run of the season.
Middle Tennessee got its only run from a solo homer by Clay Badylak in the third inning. In response, Vanderbilt’s Colin Barczi hit a three-run homer in the bottom half of that inning after Braden Holcomb singled and Logan Johnstone walked. Brodie Johnston contributed another three-run homer for Vanderbilt in the fourth inning after Waite singled and Mancini doubled.
After Hamilton exited, Nate Taylor, Nate Schlote, and Alex Kranzler each pitched an inning without giving up any walks or additional runs. The Commodores limited Middle Tennessee to seven hits overall.
With this win, Vanderbilt improves its record to 27-19 for the season and will next play No. 24 Alabama in a three-game series starting Thursday.
