Vanderbilt mistakes give Oregon victory

The No. 2 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores were looking good heading into the eighth inning of Sunday's matchup with No. 15 Oregon. However, a wild pitch, several walks and fielding errors would doom the planned sweep of the Ducks.

The crowd for Sunday's game was 1,816 which was somewhat yes than the first two games of the series. Both those game had well over 2,000 in attendance.


This duck is very popular in the state of Oregon, except for the Corvallis area.


A duck attempts a bunt early in the game. Oregon bunted successfully three times in the first inning which produced a run and a 1-1 score at the end of that inning. Vandy had scored a run when Connor Harrell's sacrifice fly scored Tony Kemp.


Oregon's Steven Packer runs for first. The Ducks took a 2-1 lead in the third inning after Brett Thomas' single scored Ryon Healy.


Spencer Navin on second base. Navin led off the fifth with a double which sparked a 2-run inning for the Commodores. Unfortunately Navin was later injured and had to leave the game.


John Norwood's double in the fifth inning scored Spencer Navin and gave VU a 3-2 lead.


Vandy celebrates during the 2-run fifth inning.


Philip Pfeifer pitches. Pfeifer was solid throughout the day allowing 3 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings of work. However, he was somewhat victimized stat wise by Oregon's success bunting in the first inning.


Mike Yastrzemski up for bat in the sixth inning under the watchful eye of head coach Tim Corbin.


Mike Yastrzemski rounds the bases and is greeted by Corbin after blasting a home run out of the stadium. Vandy led 4-2 after six and seemed in control.


Vandy added a run in the top of the eighth via a Yaz double and led 5-2 but things got hairy in the Oregon eighth when the Ducks loaded bases. A combination of several walks, a wild pitch and a VU throwing error allowed Oregon to tie the game and then take the lead 7-5.


Oregon celebrates during their big eighth inning. Oregon had only one single during the inning but scored five runs thanks to Vanderbilt gifts. Vandy managed a hit from Joel McKeithan in its ninth but could not advance him.


Head coach Tim Corbin speaks with the team after a tough loss.


Commodores visit with family and friends after the game. A very late flight back to Nashville was in store.

Next up for Vandy (15-2) is a visit from Buffalo on Wednesday. The Commodores will then visit Auburn for a 3-game series this weekend starting on Friday night.