Vanderbilt Takes Series From No. 7 LSU with Ninth-Inning Rally 3/17/02

Baton Rouge, La. -- The Vanderbilt Commodores scored three times in the ninth inning to rally past No. 7 LSU and take their first three-game series from LSU in Baton Rouge since 1957. The win improves Vanderbilt's record to 13-4 overall and 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU slips to 14-8 overall and 1-2 in the league.

Vanderbilt's last win in the series came in 1998 in Nashville.

Left fielder John Kaye doubled down the right-field line to score pinch runner Eric Billings and center fielder Karl Nonemaker to complete the rally. Earlier in the inning right field Worth Scott scored on an RBI single by Nonemaker.

Vanderbilt had built leads of 4-1 and 5-3 lead earlier in the game thanks to the hitting of first baseman Sean Luellwitz who went 3-for-5 with four RBi and two runs scored. The senior gave VU a 3-0 lead with a first-inning three-run homer off the scoreboard in right field. He also hit a solo homer to center field in the fourth.

LSU rallied in the eighth scoring four runs, sparked by triples from second baseman J.C. Holt and left fielder Matt Heath.

Steven Faulkner started the game for Vanderbilt, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing three hits and three earned runs. But it was Scott Shapiro (2-0) that earned the win. Jeff Sues came in in the ninth to earn his first collegiate save.

Brian Wilson (3-2) took the loss for LSU.