Baseball: Vanderbilt 22 Lipscomb 4

NASHVILLE-- Vanderbilt broke open a 5-3 game through the first five innings with 17 runs through the final four innings in a 22-4 win over Lipscomb Tuesday afternoon at Ken Dugan Field.

The Commodores claimed both games of the season series against the Bisons (5-7) and improved to 10-4 on the year.

The 22 runs scored was the most by a Vanderbilt team under head coach Tim Corbin and the most since scoring 22 against Middle Tennessee at home in 1991.

“It took a while for those runs to come by,” said Corbin. “We were walking but we weren’t bringing them in until Westlake’s (Aaron) double in the sixth. It was also good to see guys come off the bench and do a good job offensively when given the chance.”

Curt Casali went 3-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in leading the 19-hit attack. The late inning barrage allowed the Commodores to use several reserves with the highlight being Drew Fann delivering a pinch-hit grand slam homer in the eighth inning. Fann belted the first collegiate pitch he saw over the wall in left-center plating four of the six runs in the inning.

“I have never done anything like that at any level,” said Fann after the game. “This is the best team I have ever been a part of. We get along well and hang out together on and off the field. It’s been fun to be a part of it.”

Several Commodores got in on the action offensively as Aaron Westlake, Gabe Ortiz, Alex McClure and Jordan Wormsley recorded two hits apiece. Ortiz, McClure and Wormsley each achieved the mark coming off the bench.

Steven Liddle recorded two RBI without the virtue of a hit through his first five at-bats before belting a two-run homer, his first collegiate round-tripper, in the ninth inning.

Grayson Garvin made his first collegiate start on the mound and gave up three runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work with five strikeouts and two walks. Drew Hayes came on in relief of a 5-3 game and stabilized it on the mound holding the Bison hitless in 3.2 innings of scoreless work with five strikeouts and two walks. Richie Goodenow pitched a scoreless eighth and Mark Lamm closed it out in the ninth, allowing a solo homer with two strikeouts.

“Drew Hayes was a key factor in the game,” added Corbin. “He came in and shut it down so we could regroup offensively. I think early on this season he was trying to overthrow and impress and I think now he is going out there and pitching. His last three outings have been good and we need for him to continue to do that for us to be a good ballclub.”

Lipscomb plated two runs in the first inning on a RBI double by Justin Sanders and a RBI single by Branden Cadavid.

The Commodores took advantage of Lipscomb starter Jerry Young’s wildness in the second, scoring three runs via a bases loaded hit by pitch of Alex Hilliard and a bases loaded walk to Brian Harris and Curt Casali.

The Bison scored a run in the second on a RBI grounder and then the Commodores responded with a run in the third on a RBI double by Jonathan White and another run in the fourth on a RBI groundout by Steven Liddle.

VU broke open the game with five runs in the sixth, with the key hits a two-run double by Westlake and a three-run double by Joe Loftus. They added three runs in the seventh with Curt Casali hitting a solo homer, his fifth of the year. Alex McClure added a RBI single in the frame.

The Commodores sent 10 men to the plate in the eighth, capped off with Fann’s grand slam to center.

“That is not easy for someone to do after catching in the bullpen for eight innings,” said Corbin. “I was happy for Drew, he deserves it.”

VU will open up Southeastern Conference play this weekend as Ole Miss comes to town for a three-game set. The Commodores and Rebels will start up at 6 p.m. on Friday and will then play at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Vanderbilt  031 105 363 - 22(19)0            
Lipscomb    210 000 001 - 481

Garvin, Hayes (4), Goodenow (8), Lamm (9) and Westlake, Fann. Young, Cotham (2), Hackett (4), Grude (6), Bowling (7), Baron (8) W- Hayes 1-1, L- Cotham 0-1. Sv- None. HR: VU: Casali (5), Fann (1), Liddle (1). LIP: Newman (1)