Vanderbilt Walks Seven Batters and Allows a Season High in Runs in 12-7 loss at Evansville

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Evansville broke open a 2-2 tie, scoring five runs in the fourth inning before going on to a 12-7 win over visiting Vanderbilt, Tuesday, April 8, at Charles Braun Stadium.

Vanderbilt pitchers gave up a season high in runs allowed and walked seven as the Commodores slipped to 16-15 overall. Vanderbilt left at least one runner on base in every inning and 12 for the game. With the win, Evansville improves to 12-19 on the season.

Evansville starter Derek Kirk (2-1) earned the win while Commodore reliever John Scott (1-1) took the loss.

The Purple Aces took advantage of control problems by Scott who entered the game in the fourth inning. The sophomore left-hander struck out the first batter he faced before allowing the following six batters to reach base. Scott walked three, including Eric Jones with the bases loaded to give UE a 3-2 lead. Kyle Smith then followed with a two-RBI double to increase to lead to 5-2. Mike Serafini, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI in the game, then followed with a two-RBI single to center field to give the Purple Aces a 7-2 lead.

After a Warner Jones sacrifice fly brought the Commodores within 7-3 in the top of the fifth, Evansville scored three more times in its frame to extend the lead to 10-3. VU reliever Blake Owen threw a bases-loaded wild pitch, allowing Buck Burner to score. Serafini and Erik Lis also recorded RBI singles in the inning.

The Commodore plated three runs in the sixth in an attempted comeback. Zach Simpson singled in Ryan Godfrey and later scored on a wild pitch and Matt Zeller drew a bases loaded walk to pull Vanderbilt within a 10-6 score.

Evansville got a run back in its half of the sixth when Erik Jones hit a RBI double to increase the lead to 11-6.

The Purple Aces finished their scoring in the eight when Wes Davis' RBI ground out gave Evansville a 12-6 cushion.

Vanderbilt completed the game's scoring in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Simpson.

Vanderbilt's only lead of the game came briefly in the third inning. The Commodores plated two runs to brake up a scoreless game on a RBI ground out by Ryan Klosterman and a run scoring double by Cesar Nicolas. Ryan Godfrey led all Commodore hitter with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. Klosterman, Nicolas, Zeller and Simpson registered a pair of hits. Simpson had two RBI.

Vanderbilt travels to Fayetteville this weekend for a three-game series against Arkansas. Game times are Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.