Vanderbilt Takes On Ole Miss In SEC Tournament After Being Swept By LSU

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Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

After a shaky season, Vanderbilt baseball finds itself as the No. 8 seed in the SEC Baseball Tournament. They will play a single elimination game against Ole Miss tonight (May 24) in Hoover, Alabama at 4:30 p.m. CT.

The Commodores had a chance to get a higher seed this past weekend when LSU visited Hawkins Field, but the Tigers’ explosive offense completely shut down Vandy with no hope to get a single win in the three-game series. LSU and Vandy were tied for seventh place at the time and now the Tigers find themselves with the No. 4 seed and an extra day off. The Dores’ were outscored by LSU 42-15.

“Once we start to get on the bus and go down to Hoover, I feel like that’s always been medicine for us–good medicine for us in so many different ways. That’s not to say we’ve always played well in Hoover, but we’ve played well in Hoover ever since I’ve been here,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin in a Monday press conference. “There’s been years where we came home after one [game], but the reality is if you look at the resume of work and the body of work… it’s been consistent. I’m not going to tell you we’ve been on the high side, and I’m not going to tell you we’ve been on the low side. They are re losses or wins, and you just move forward.”

Vanderbilt has suffered some major injuries this season and has lacked the star pitching it had in previous years with All-Americans like Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. However, the SEC Tournament is a fresh start where Corbin’s team can change the conversation.

Starting for Vandy against Ole Miss is freshman Carter Holton who’s been the team’s top pitcher all season long. Holton has started in 13 games this year and has thrown a 3.42 ERA, pitching 68.1 innings and striking out 86 batters. Holton, along with teammate Devin Futrell, were named to the Freshman All-SEC Team.

Enrique Bradfield Jr. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

The Commodores also have the dynamic duo of Dominic Keegan and Enrique Bradfield Jr., who were each named to the All-SEC First Team. Keegan concluded the regular season with a .366 batting average, ranking fifth in the league, while tying for fourth in the conference RBI with 57.

Bradfield has been a stolen base wizard this season, leading the SEC and going a perfect 42-for-42 on attempts, while placing fourth in runs scored with 60. He also batted .322 this season with 68 hits.

Top MLB Prospect for Vanderbilt Spencer Jones leads the team in batting average with .379, 75 hits and 48 RBI’s. He was recently named to the All-SEC Second Team.

This Vanderbilt team is still extremely talented and one of the best teams in the country, being in DI Baseball’s Top 25 just a week ago. The Commodores have bounced back many times this season, especially after being swept by No. 1 Tennessee at Hawkins Field in March. Vandy also has a decent track record against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament, having played 12 times twice in 2021 and are 6-6 in those meetings.

Regardless of their performance, Vanderbilt is predicted to be a No. 2 seed in most NCAA Baseball Tournament brackets, but a win or two in the SEC Tournament will only build their confidence and put themselves in a better position to play in a Super Regional.

Steven Boero
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