about an hour ago
Vanderbilt Athletics
NASHVILLE, TN- Vanderbilt Baseball used a dominating performance from Carter Holton to win Friday’s game against Georgia 9-2 at Hawkins Field.
The Dores won Game 1 of the series behind Holton’s strong seven innings on the mound. The second allowed just two runs on three hits and struck out 10 batters, a season high.
RJ Austin and RJ Schreck totaled three RBIs each to provide Holton with more than enough running support. Enrique Bradfield Jr. stole a pair of bases and Parker Noland left the court for the fourth time in the last five games.
Will David of Georgia opened the scoring with a two-run homer left with one out in the top of the second.
Austin provided a quick response in the home half of the frame. After Jack Bulger singled to start the inning, Austin homered his fourth homer of the season to tie the game at 2-2.
The Dores took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run inning. Jonathan Vastine started with a triple all the way to the right. Bradfield and Davis Diaz worked back-to-back walks to load the bases and Schreck cleared them with a three-run double off the wall in right field.
Schreck moved up to third on a Bulger single and scored on an Austin sack fly to put Vanderbilt up 6-2.
Parker Noland added another run with a first solo hit in the bottom of the sixth, his fourth homer in the last five games. Bradfield went one-for-one with two outs in the frame and stole the second with Diaz flat. Diaz then chose right field, scoring Bradfield and giving the Commodores an 8-2 lead.
Vandy added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Calvin Hewett singled out and Bradfield worked a walk to put in two with one out. The pair executed a double steal and Hewett scored on a groundout, putting Vanderbilt ahead by seven.
Sam Hliboki came on as relief in the eighth inning and threw two scoreless frames with three strikeouts.
With Friday’s victory, the Commodores have won nine straight and 15 of their last 16.
Following
Vanderbilt (21-5, 7-0 SEC) and Georgia (15-11, 1-6 SEC) meet again Saturday at 2 p.m. on SEC Network+ for Game 2 of the series.