Vanderbilt Baseball Wins SEC Tournament & Earns No. 6 Seed In Regionals

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Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt baseball won the SEC Tournament for the ninth time in program history, defeating Texas A&M 10-4 on Sunday (May 28) in Hoover, Alabama.

Vandy is the first No. 4 seed to take the title game since 2015, and has solidified themselves as a favorite to win the College Baseball World Series.

“I know you throw out there, team effort, but it really speaks to everyone who was a participant inside this tournament, whether it was statistically or whether it was spiritually inside the bunker,” said Head Coach Tim Corbin in a postgame press conference. “I’m just happy for them that they pulled it together. We played very good baseball. We played tough baseball and played when it mattered. Just glad we could get here, start here on Monday, end here today and see it through and enjoy what is America’s best conference tournament.”

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vandy has been hot all tournament, and they didn’t slow down at all against Texas A&M. The Aggies struck first in the second inning but the Commodores struck right back, scoring three runs with Troy LaNeve hitting a three-run home run, his third in the last five games.

“It feels good,” LaNeve said in a postgame press conference. “This whole year has been a good year. There’s so many guys on this team, it’s so easy to celebrate. Getting back on the field and being able to contribute a little bit definitely feels good but the approach has been the same the whole entire year.”

Vanderbilt took a 5-4 lead heading into the eighth inning and scored five runs on some great offense by Calvin Hewett, who hit a three RBI double, making it 10-4 and securing the championship win.

RJ Austin also earned SEC Tournament MVP going 7-for-18 with two doubles, a home run, five RBI’s and four runs in four games during the tournament. He went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI during the championship game against Texas A&M.

Enrique Bradfield Jr. holding the SEC Tournament trophy. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

“I said this earlier but I’m really excited,” said Austin. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had and just being with the older guys that have been here before, just celebrating with them, seeing how happy they are, it’s just fun being here. Like I can’t explain more. It’s just so fun being here.”

The Commodores played a stellar tournament playing and eventually defeating some of college baseball’s best teams. They kicked things off by beating Auburn 6-4 in their tournament opener and then fell to Florida 6-3 in Vanderbilt’s first loss in double elimination.

In the quarterfinals, the Commodores found revenge against Alabama who took two of three earlier in the season, by beating them 9-2 behind fantastic pitching from Devin Futrell and Thomas Schultz.

In the semifinals, Vandy played Florida again after being swept in Gainesville last month and losing to them earlier in the tournament. But Vanderbilt showed up big time, scoring 10 runs in the first three innings including four in the first inning, eventually winning 11-6.

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

The Commodores took advantage of mistakes and error early on. Chris Maldonado and Parker Noland led the way with two RBI’s each.

In Monday’s NCAA Baseball Regionals Selection Show, Vandy was named the No. 6 overall seed as well as a host team. In the Nashville Regional, they will play the winner between Oregon vs. Xavier this Friday, June 2 at Hawkins Field at 2 p.m. before playing Eastern Illinois later in the day at 7 p.m.

Steven Boero
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