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Commodores rally late, stun Tide
Tuscaloosa, Ala. –
Vanderbilt erased a five-run deficit, rallying for seven runs over the
final two innings to stun Alabama and win 9-7 Sunday afternoon at
Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Alabama (16-26, 6-12) built a 7-2
advantage through seven innings scoring three runs in the third, three
more in the fourth and tacking on a single run in the sixth. The
Commodores (18-22, 7-11) started the comeback in the eighth inning with
five runs, sending nine men to the plate. Anthony Gomez’s leadoff
triple ignited the rally. Conrad Gregor immediately drove in Gomez with
a single to right field. An error on the Crimson Tide second baseman
put runners on first and second before the Tide picked up a pair of
outs. Vince Conde drew a two-out walk to load the bases for pinch
hitter Chris Harvey. The freshman delivered in a big way, doubling into
the gap in left-center field to clear the bases and bring VU within a
run. Tony Kemp’s double down the left field line knocked in Andrew
Harris, who pinch ran for Harvey, to tie the game and cap the five-run
rally.
In the ninth with two outs, the Dores took their
first lead of the day when Connor Harrell bounced a single over the
third baseman’s head to score Grego, who had reached on his third hit
of the day. Conde followed with a single through the right side to put
Vandy up 9-7 heading to the bottom of the ninth. The Tide made the
ninth exciting getting two runners aboard before Drew VerHagen ended
the game by getting Taylor Dugas to hit into a double play.
VerHagen
(4-2) earned the win in relief working 1.1 scoreless innings. Jake
Hubbard (2-2) took the loss giving up two runs in 1.1 innings.
Vanderbilt starter Kevin Ziomek gave up six runs, five earned, on eight
hits over 3.2 innings. Reliever Brian Miller pitched four solid innings
out of the bullpen allowing one run on four hits. Alabama starter Jon
Keller gave up two runs on three hits and five walks over six innings.
Gregor
led the way for Vanderbilt going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and his
first home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth. Conde knocked
in two runs and Gomez extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a
pair of hits. Ben Moore led Alabama with four hits.
The win was Head Coach Tim Corbin’s 500th of his career and 394th as the Commodores’ skipper.
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