Vandy Out-Duels Troy on Saturday

Saturday, June 4

Nashville, Tennessee

7:00 p.m.

Troy University

Vanderbilt University

Photo by: Mike Strasinger

6/4/2011 10:22:21 PM | Baseball

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE :: PHOTO GALLERY :: QUOTES

NASHVILLE – Troy had a lead after four innings, but gave up the lead just one inning later and never regained the advantage in a 10-2 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday night in NCAA Nashville Regional action at Hawkins Field.

The loss drops the No. 21 Trojans (43-17) into the loser's bracket and sets a 2 p.m. Sunday date with Belmont for the right to advance to a 7 p.m. rematch with the Commodores.

The Commodores (49-10) capitalized on six Troy walks and two hit batters to score six of their 10 runs.

The trouble began as Vanderbilt capitalized on a pair of Jimmy Hodgskin walks with a sacrifice fly by Anthony Gomez for the first run, but Tyler Hannah speared a hot-shot liner to third by Aaron Westlake to escape the top of the third inning with no more damage and Troy trailing 1-0.

Hodgskin came back with a strong third innings, getting the 'Dores 1-2-3. His teammates then came through with some offense as Hannah and Adam Bryant started the rally with base hits. Next, a T.J. Rivera bunt moved the runners into scoring position.

Vanderbilt starter Grayson Garvin responded with the strike out of the Troy left fielder Boone Shear, but Todd McRae came through with a two-out single to left to plate both Hannah and Bryant for the Trojans' first lead of the game in the fourth inning.

While the base hit by the senior catcher put the Trojans on top and gave them the momentum, it would again change hands quickly in the next frame.

Hodgskin (3-7) hit the first batter in the fifth, then issued his third walk to force the hand of Pierce. The veteran head coach went to lefty Nate Hill with two on and no outs in the inning and Riley Reynolds at the plate.

The move did not go as planned. The first batter, Reynolds, sacrificed, then a single by Tony Kemp up the middle compounded with an errant throw from Rivera plated two runs and put the left fielder at third. A sacrifice fly by Gomez brought home Kemp to push the Commodore lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth.

The final out of the frame was made by Troy centerfielder Daniel Peterson as he robbed VU first baseman Aaron Westlake of a solo homer on a leaping grab at the wall to keep his Trojans within two runs.

Peterson was the lone Troy hitter to record two hits on Saturday night.

Bryant reached on an error by Garvin and Rivera singled to start the bottom of the sixth. It wasn't to be though, as Shear struck out looking on a tough inside pitch and McRae bounced into a double play to end the inning.

Hill gave Troy four innings out of the bullpen. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with a walk and a strike out.

The Trojans threatened in the seventh using a single plus stolen base by Daniel Peterson followed by an error on Vanderbilt third baseman Jason Esposito to chase Garvin (13-1). The junior southpaw struck out seven in 6.2 innings of work with just one walk.

Esposito recorded two hits for the 'Dores and three VU players recorded two RBI each, respectively.

Right-hander Will Clinard took over out of the pen and retired Hannah on a grounder back to the pitcher to end the scoring chance and close out the frame with the Trojans still down by two, 4-2.

The Commodores added some insurance on a two-run single by Conrad Gregor in the eighth. Mike Yastrzemski recorded a two-out triple to setup the run-scoring opportunity and after an intentional walk to Jason Esposito, Hill allowed the single through the right side. The late scores pushed the Troy deficit to 6-2 with just six outs remaining.

Nick Ward entered for the ninth inning and the senior allowed four runs on two hits and a pair of walks. He issued a lead-off pass to Reynolds, then got a pop up on a bunt attempt by Kemp for an out, but a walk to Gomez set the stage for a three-run homer by Westlake – this one just out of the reach of a leaping Peterson in center.

The inning still wasn't completed and Ward allowed a blast to deep center off the bat of catcher Curt Casali ended the night for Ward. He was relieved by Thomas Austin, who got a ground out to first and a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Pinch-hitter Hayden Hillyer walked in the ninth, but Clinard struck out Peterson to the game. Clinard earned his third save of the season with 2.1 innings of work. His only stumble was the walk to Hillyer in the ninth.

Troy's starter for Sunday's match-up with Belmont is still to be determined.