Commodores Defeat Central Michigan 19-2 and Jacksonville 5-2 (11 Innings) Wednesday; Will Face Michigan State Thursday at 5 p.m. ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cesar Nicolas’ leadoff home run to left field and
Rucker Taylor’s bases-loaded two-RBI single down the third-base line sparked
a three-run 11th inning as Vanderbilt (8-5) topped Jacksonville, 5-2 Wednesday, March 5, at Brest Stadium. The win was the Commodores’ second of the day coming after Vanderbilt’s 19-2 pounding of Central Michigan (2-3)
earlier in the afternoon at Harmon Stadium at the University of North
Florida.

In the late game, the Commodores rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the top of
the fourth inning to tie the score. Tony Mansolino’s two-RBI double to
left-center field scored Ryan Klosterman and Nicolas.

Vanderbilt starter Ryan Mullins took control from there, retiring 10
consecutive batters from the third through sixth innings while allowing only
one JU runner into scoring position in his final five innings of work.
Mullins did not factor into the decision, but struck out seven Dolphin
batters and walked none while scattering seven hits in eight innings of
work.

Matt Buschmann (1-1) was the pitcher of record. He pitched 2.1 innings
before running into trouble in the bottom of the 11th inning. H was relieved
by Jensen Lewis, who pitched out of a bases-loaded one-out jam, coaxing
pinch hitter Joe Steward to strike out and Larry Best-Berfet to hit into
game-ending fielder’s choice putout at second base.
Josh Deel (1-2) took the loss for Jacksonville, who falls to 5-7 on the
year.

Earlier in the day, Jeff Sues struck out a career-high 12 batters over
eight innings and Matt McGraner and Ryan Klosterman had four hits apiece as
Vanderbilt pounded out a season high 19 runs and 22 hits in defeating
Central Michigan, 19-2.

In the longest outing of his career, Sues (3-0) scattered seven hits and
walked two in eight innings of work. The two earned runs he surrendered came
on a two-run home run by Chase Welker in the bottom of the third inning.
Sues then settled down and did not allow another CMU batter as far as second
base the rest of game. Blake Owen came on in relief in the ninth and walked
one and struck out one.

Eight Commodores registered at least two hits, led by McGraner’s and
Klosterman’s four-hit performances. McGraner led all VU hitters with five
RBI. Worth Scott went 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBI and four runs scored.
Warner Jones hit his first collegiate home run, a two-run blast over the
left-field wall that scored McGraner in the seventh.

Vanderbilt jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning off CMU starter
J.T. Johnson (0-2). The biggest hit came from Matt Zeller, who knocked a
two-RBI single to center field to plate McGraner and Rucker Taylor. The Commodores built an 8-2 lead after six innings only to score 11 more
runs in the final three innings. VU scored four runs in the seventh on a RBI
triple by Scott, a RBI single by McGraner and a two-run homer by Jones. After a RBI single by McGraner in the eighth, VU added six more runs in the
ninth off CMU reliever Jeff Opalewski. Cesar Nicolas hit a two-RBI single to
center field and later scored on a bases-load walk forced by Scott. McGraner
followed with a bases-loaded RBI single to left field. Gil Kim came to the
plate next and was hit by a pitch to plate Zach Simpson. John Kaye then
singled to right field to score Scott.

Vanderbilt also announced a change in its schedule later this week. Due to
the forecast for inclement weather on Friday, the Vanderbilt-Michigan State
game has been moved to Thursday, March 6, at 5 p.m. at Harmon Stadium at the University of North Florida.

-VU-