Home Season Underway Wednesday

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (VUAD) – Top-ranked Vanderbilt opens the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, welcoming Evansville to Hawkins Field for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.

The Commodores (2-1) are coming off victories against Virginia and No. 25 Cal State Fullerton in Talking Stick, Arizona. Despite a loss in the finale to No. 19 TCU, Vandy maintained its top ranking by D1Baseball.com after being named the favorite to win it all during the preseason.

Evansville (1-2) enters the midweek on the heels of its first victory of the season, avoiding a sweep to Mercer with a 7-2 win on Sunday. The Purple Aces lost seven seniors to graduation from a season ago including three starters and a pair of frequently-used relievers.

Wednesday’s matchup will be streamed on the SEC Network Plus with Andrew Harris and Kevin Ingram on the call. SEC Network subscribers can tune in through WatchESPN and the ESPN app. Fans can also listen to the game via the VUCommodores app and locally on WNSR 560 AM/95.9 FM.

PROMOTIONS

Outfield tickets are available for only $7 through by calling 615-322-GOLD or by visiting VUCommodores.com. Fans in attendance will receive the first of a 10-part “Dores in the Pros” poster series. Wednesday’s poster will feature Commodore great Pedro Alvarez.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP

- WEDNESDAY: RHP Chance Huff (1-0, 27.00 ERA) vs. RHP Shane Gray (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

NEED TO KNOW

Wednesday marks the 59th all-time meeting between Vanderbilt and Evansville with the Commodores holding a 39-19 advantage. Vanderbilt is 25-10 against the Purple Aces all-time in Nashville and 5-2 at Hawkins Field.

Vanderbilt is 97-20 (.829) in nonconference games at Hawkins Field since the start of the 2013 season. The Commodores went 12-4 in those games a season ago. Vandy’s best mark during that stretch came in 2016 when the squad finished 20-1.

For a second consecutive opening weekend, Philip Clarke led the Commodores in RBIs. The catcher produced six against No. 25 Duke in 2018 and eight at the 2019 MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament.


UP NEXT

Vanderbilt continues its 15-game homestand, welcoming Pepperdine for a three-game series beginning Friday at 4:30 p.m. Saturday’s middle game is set for 2 p.m. while Sunday’s finale will start at 1 o’clock. All three games will be streamed on the SEC Network Plus.

[EllistonVU]

The game did eventually start.

5-4 good guys in the top of the 7th. Lots of stranded runner.

[charlestonalum]

Pitching with lots of freshmen who did a credible job after slow start. We stranded runners and once we had bases loaded with 1 out and failed to get a run. However, this team gets hits and extra bases at that. Games are on ESPN + so good way for those of us out of town to watch.

[geeznotagain]

I didn't watch, but noted from the box score that our pitching staff struck out 16 and walked just 2 (with 1 HBP). That's the stat that caught my eye.