Nicolas-Jones Duo Help Vanderbilt Take Second Straight From No. 13 Florida, 4-2; Sunday’s Game Moved to Noon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cesar Nicolas and Warner Jones each went 3-for-4 and delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the seventh inning to break up a 2-2 tie and send Vanderbilt to a 4-2 win over No. 13 Florida, Saturday, April 5, at Hawkins Field.

The win assures the Commodores of their first Southeastern Conference series victory of the season. Vanderbilt improves to 15-14 overall and 4-7 in the SEC. Florida slips to 23-8-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the league.

The series finale, originally schedule to start Sunday at 1 p.m., has been moved up to Noon due to the predictions of afternoon rain in Nashville and Florida’s travel plans.

Robert Ransom (3-0) put in a solid effort in posting the win. The right-hander scattered seven hits over seven innings while allowing two runs (both earned) to go along with a walk and five strikeouts. Matt Buschmann came on in relief in the eighth inning and did not allow a hit while earning his third save of the season.

Florida starter Justin Hoyman (4-2) took the loss. He gave up all of Vanderbilt’s 10 hits while allowing four runs (three earned) and two walks with four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.

Vandebilt broke open a 2-2 tie in the seventh when, with one out, five consecutive batters reached base. Ryan Klosterman began the streak when he
forced a walk. Matt Zeller followed with a fielder’s choice ground ball to UF
first baseman C.J. Smith that was thrown wildly into center field, allowing
Klosterman to advance to third base. Nicolas brought home Klosterman three
pitches later with a single off the left-field wall. Jones made the score 4-2
when he singled past Smith at first base to score Zeller.

Florida took the game’s first lead, 1-0, in the second inning on a RBI single
by Brian Rose that plated Ben Harrison.

Vanderbilt answered in its half of the inning when Tony Mansolino doubled
along the line in left field to send in Jones from third base.

The Commodores took a brief 2-1 lead in the sixth inning when Nicolas doubled
to left center and scored two batters later when John Kaye singled to right
field.

The Gators answered in the top of the seventh when Rose tripled to right
center field and came home on a RBI ground out by pinch hitter Matt Maley.

That set the stage for Vanderbilt’s game-determining two-run seventh inning.

Sunday the Commodores go for their first sweep of an SEC opponent since 1997
when Vanderbilt took all three from Florida in Nashville.