Vanderbilt Outlasts Lipscomb's Four-Run Ninth For 6-5 Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tony Mansolino knocked in three runs and John Kaye went 2-for-4 with two RBI as Vanderbilt built a 6-0 lead over Lipscomb through sixth innings, but the Commodores had to withstand a four-run ninth-inning rally by the Bisons before winning, 6-5, Tuesday, March 10 at Hawkins Field. With the victory Vanderbilt records its sixth win in its last nine games to move to 10-6. Lipscomb drops to 4-10 on the season.

In his first collegiate start Commodore freshman right-hander Matt Buschmann (2-1) pitched five perfect innings and recorded five strikeouts in the win. Lipscomb starter Logan Good (1-3) allowed three hits, three walks and four runs (all earned) in the loss.

Vanderbilt scored the game's first two runs in the second inning on Mansolino's two-out two-RBI double down the left-field line that scored Worth Scott and Jeff Boutwell.

The Commodores pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third when Rucker Taylor scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Cesar Nicolas.

An inning later, Kaye doubled to left-center field and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Mansolino to give Vanderbilt a 4-0 advantage after four innings.

The Commodores' lead grew to 6-0 in the fifth when Kaye's one-out two-RBI single to center field scored Nicolas and Worth Scott.

Vanderbilt reliever John Scott took over for Buschmann in the sixth and carried the perfect game into the seventh before Lipscomb's Brian Passons pushed a bunt over the head of John Scott on the mound for an infield single. Nathan McCorkle brought in Passons three batters later on a double into left-center field to make the score 6-1.

That was the score of the game entering the ninth when VU reliever Blake Owen gave up four runs (three earned) on two hits. Passons, who led off the inning with a walk, scored the Bisons first run of the inning when he came home from third base on a RBI single through the left side of the infield by McCorkle. With one out, Chris Parker was hit by a pitch and later came home on RBI single by Todd Boucher. Lipscomb continued the rally on the next play when McCorkle came home on a wild pitch by Owen. One out later Lipscomb pulled to within a 6-5 score when Brett Pack, pinch running for Boucher, scored after VU shortstop Ryan Klosterman's throw to first base short hopped Cesar Nicolas, allowing Patrick O'Rourke to reached base.

Commodore reliever Jonathan Douillard then entered the game and recorded his first collegiate save, throwing three consecutive strikes to retire Ryan Royer with the game-ending strikeout.

Vanderbilt begins play in the Southeastern Conference this weekend in Starkville, Miss., when it battles the 10th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT. Game two of the series is Saturday at 2 p.m. The series finale is Sunday at 1:30 p.m.