Vanderbilt Moves Within a Half Game of SEC East Lead with 4-2 Win
Over No. 7 LSU

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jeremy Sowers struck out six and limited LSU to five hits and two runs in 7.1 innings of work and Warner Jones and Zach Simpson recorded a career-high three hits apiece as Vanderbilt edged No. 7 LSU, 4-2, Friday, April 18, at Hawkins Field.

The win, in front of 1,471 fans, moves Vanderbilt (18-18, 7-9 Southeastern Conference) to within a half game of the SEC Eastern Division lead following Kentucky's 1-0 win over Tennessee and Georgia's 5-4 win over Florida. The Mississippi State at South Carolina contest was suspended due to rain. The loss drops SEC West-leading LSU to 25-12-1 overall and 11-4-1 in league play.

Sowers (3-4) won his third consecutive start. Jensen Lewis pitched the final inning and two thirds to pick up his team-leading sixth save.

The Commodores took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. John Kaye, who finished the game 2-for-4, doubled to right field off Tiger starter Justin Meier (4-2) to bring in Matt Zeller and Jones.

Vanderbilt extended its lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning when Jones hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left center field.

LSU pulled to within a 3-1 score in the seventh on a RBI ground out by Quinn Stewart that brought in Clay Harris.

Vanderbilt answered in the bottom of the seventh when Cesar Nicolas singled in Simpson from second base to give the Commodores a 4-1 advantage.

LSU threatened in the eighth. Aaron Hill's single to left field was misplayed by Jones, allowing Ryan Patterson to score from first base. Sowers was pulled for reliever Jensen Lewis who gave up an infield single before coaxing Harris to hit into an inning-ending double play.

VU's Ryan Klosterman extended his team-best hit streak to 12 games with a fifth-inning single.

The victory marks Vanderbilt's fifth win over a ranked conference opponent in its last seven games. The win also moves the Commodores' win streak over LSU to a series-best three games. The Commodores took two of three from the Tigers last year in Baton Rouge.

The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m.