Baseball: Vanderbilt 11, Oakland 4

Nashville, Tenn. – Vanderbilt cruised by Oakland 11-4 Wednesday night at Hawkins Field in the 17th-ranked Commodores’ home opener.

With the game knotted at 1-1 in the third inning the Dores exploded for five runs to claim the lead for good. Anthony Gomez’s two-run single put VU in front and Mike Yastrzemski’s three-run homer off the top of the right field bleachers capped the five-run rally. Vandy put the game away in the fifth inning with a four-run rally. RBI-doubles from Chris Harvey and Riley Reynolds along with an Oakland error led to the four runs. Anthony Gomez paced the Commodores with three hits, two walks and two RBI while Yastrzemski added two hits and two runs scored to go with his three RBI. Harvey added two hits and scored two runs in his Hawkins Field debut. Robby Enslen led the Grizzlies with two hits and two RBI.

Drew VerHagen earned the win in his three-inning start. The big right-hander gave up one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Brian Miller shined in two innings of relief, fanning five. Oakland reliever Russell Luxton took the loss allowing five runs, one earned, on four hits in his lone inning of work. The Grizzlies used 11 pitchers in the team’s first game of the season.

Vanderbilt returns to action Friday afternoon at Hawkins Field when the Oregon Ducks visit. The Dores and Ducks will play Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon. For season ticket information visit vucommodores.com or call 615.322.GOLD.

           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9    R  H E
OAKLAND    1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 -  4  8 2
VANDERBILT 1 0 5 0 4 0 1 0 0 - 11 10 0

Boxscore: Download Doc