Vanderbilt secured a 5-3 victory over South Carolina on May 16, completing a series sweep at Hawkins Field.
The result marks the end of the regular season for Vanderbilt, who finished with a record of 32-24 overall and 14-16 in conference play. The team will now advance to compete in the Southeastern Conference Tournament beginning Tuesday in Hoover, Alabama.
After trailing by three runs early, Vanderbilt rallied in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ryker Waite delivered a go-ahead three-run home run that capped off a five-run frame for the Commodores. Logan Johnstone led off with a single, followed by Braden Holcomb’s double to put runners on second and third. Both players scored on consecutive groundouts before Chris Maldonado walked and Korbin Reynolds singled to set up Waite’s decisive homer.
Six pitchers contributed to Vanderbilt’s win. Jacob Faulkner started and pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits. Aiden Stillman, Nate Schlote, Miller Green, Brennan Seiber, and Alex Kranzler each worked one inning out of the bullpen; Kranzler earned the save as Vanderbilt did not allow another base hit after the second inning.
South Carolina took an early lead with four hits and an error in the top of the second inning but was unable to score again as Vanderbilt’s pitching staff held firm through the remainder of the game.
