There's no place like home.
That was the feeling the Vanderbilt baseball team had on a chilly Wednesday evening after defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers by a score of 10-7. Following a tough road trip in California, which saw the Commodores lose two of three to Stanford and another game to Cal, Vanderbilt came out firing on all cylindersin their home opener at Hawkins Field.
"It feels good to get a win over a very good Western Kentucky team," said coach Tim Corbin.
After giving up a run in the top of the first, sophomore starting pitcher Chase Reid settled down and provided five innings of quality work, striking out three batters in the Hilltoppers' potent lineup.
Western Kentucky pitcher Bart Carter was able to hang on against Vanderbilt's vaunted batters for two innings before the Commodores finally overpowered him. The Commodores put two runners on in the third and scored a run after highly touted freshman Jason Esposito drove in right fielder Steven Liddle on a throwing error in the third.
But it was the fourth inning when the floodgates opened for the Commodores. Though Vanderbilt only mustered two hits in the inning, they scored six runs, thanks to opportune base running and patience at the plate. Curt Casali provided the highlight of the game, smacking a towering double over the centerfielder's head that cleared the bases and brought three runs home.
"We had a couple of opportunities to spark the team and get the momentum back on our side," Casali said. "But I think that was a good turning point in the game."
"He's a good, mature hitter, even though he's only a sophomore," Corbin said of Casali, who has been starting at first base for the Commodores even though he played catcher last season.
A number of other young players have stepped up for Vanderbilt in this young season and were vital to the victory on Wednesday. Freshman Matt Marquis scored twice and drew three walks, while classmate Joe Loftus added a hit. Sophomore shortstop Alex McClure, who transferred to Vanderbilt this year from Walters State Community College, had a stellar game with two hits and two runs.
Perhaps the best performance from a newcomer against the Hilltoppers came from freshman Sonny Gray, who closed the game out for Vanderbilt in the ninth inning on only 17 pitches, earning the first save in his promising career.
The win felt good for the young team and showed the rest of the baseball world that Vanderbilt boasts a scary batting lineup.
"Every time I see a hitter up there, I feel good about what's about to happen," Corbin said. "I like our offensive team, I think we're capable of scoring runs, and we're all pretty young, too."
