Vanderbilt Christens Stadium in Season Opener Against Tennessee Tech The Vanderbilt Commodores open their 104th season of collegiate baseball Tuesday, Feb. 12, against in-state foe Tennessee Tech. The season opener represents the first game played in the newly completed $5.8 million Hawkins Field. (For more on the stadium see page 3 of these games notes.)

The Commodores return 18 lettermen from the 2001 campaign, including four starting position players and seven pitchers. First baseman and reserve catcher Sean Luellwitz returns after leading the Commodores in seven offensive categories a year ago. Karl Nonemaker, a 2000 First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection returns in the outfield for his final campaign. Senior right-handed starters Steven Faulkner, Jeff Little and Chris Maultsby will give head coach Roy Mewbourne veteran experience on the mound.

Milestone Wins Within Reach Vanderbilt Head Coach Roy Mewbourne enters his 30th season as a collegiate head coach needing two victories to reach 900 for his career. He currently ranks as the third-winningest coach in the SEC among active coaches behind Arkansas’ Norm Debriyn (1,126) and Mississippi State’s Ron Polk (1,122). Only 34 coaches have registered 900 or more win alltime at the collegiate level. Already the winningest coach in Vanderbilt history, Mewbourne needs 19 victories in 2002 to reach 650 for his tenure in Nashville.

Complete Notes