Vanderbilt's Five Runs in First Two Innings Enough to Hold Off
Evansville 5-4
4/16/02

Nashville, Tenn. - Vanderbilt scored five times in the first two innings and held off Evansville 5-4 Tuesday, April 16, at Hawkins Field. The win ends the Commodores three-game losing streak and improves their record to 16-15. Evansville slips to 12-19 overall.

Freshman right-hander Jeff Sues (3-1) pitched a career-high seven innings, striking out seven and allowing 10 hits and four earned runs to earn the win. Right-hander Robert Ransom pitched the eighth, allowing only one hit. Left-hander Jeremy Sowers closed out the game in order in the ninth to pick up his first collegiate save.

Evansville starter left-hander Sean Sosonko (0-3) took the loss.

First baseman Sean Luellwitz led Vanderbilt offensively with two hits in two at bats with two RBI. Center fielder Karl Nonemaker was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The Purple Aces took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when right fielder Andy Rohleder singled in center fielder Joey Vandever from third base.

Vanderbilt answered with two runs in its half of the first on sacrifice flies by Luellwitz and designated hitter Scott Shapiro.

The Commodores built a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by catcher Scott Vanderhoff, a RBI fielder's choice by shortstop Tony Mansolino and a RBI single by Luellwitz.

Evansville scored three times in the top of the third inning but could not complete the rally. Second baseman Mike Serafini and designated hitter Dan Robinson each registered RBI singles and catcher Michael Snyder earned a RBI when his bases-loaded walk forced in Sarafini.

Sues scattered five hits and five strikeouts over his final four innings of work to shut down the Evansville attack.

Vanderbilt and Evansville conclude their two-game series Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Commodores will travel to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend to battle No. 11 Florida in a three-game SEC series.