Vanderbilt baseball learns it will have growing pains in series loss to Oklahoma State
Unlike last season, when Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter were practically Sharpied in as the Friday and Saturday starters, Vanderbilt baseball is a lot more unsettled on the mound.
Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said before the weekend's searon-opening series against No. 8 Oklahoma State no one's roles were set in stone. In their 2-1 series loss to OSU, the Commodores very much were trying to find their identity on the mound.
Freshman Carter Holton started Sunday's series finale and had a strong beginning, with six strikeouts through three innings. But in the fourth inning, he lost command, loaded the bases with nobody out and then walked in a run before giving up a two-run single in a 7-5 loss.
"They slowed his rhythm down," Corbin said. "And then when they got on base, they sped them back up again. And I think you know, for a young kid, he's going to feel that, he's gotta understand how to change his rhythm. He left the ball up because he was trying to be too quick to the plate runners on base."
Holton, making his first collegiate start, has time to figure out how to work out of trouble. So does junior Nick Maldonado, who gave up four runs (two earned) and took the loss in Saturday's game. A preseason All-American as a closer, Maldonado had never started a college game before this weekend.
But Corbin will have a challenge on his hands in figuring out the best way to use his talented arms. Unlike in 2021, there may be growing pains in the rotation.
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Tough weekend for Young, Noland
At their best, shortstop Carter Young and third baseman Parker Noland are stalwart infielders with power who can slot into the middle of a lineup and the left side of an infield. But they struggled against the Cowboys.
Young was 1-for-10 with one walk and six strikeouts, including four Sunday. Noland was 1-for-11 with one walk and seven strikeouts. The two combined to leave 10 runners on base and committed three errors.
Both players have the ability to be all-conference selections, but their struggles put a lot of pressure on the rest of the lineup.
"Just regroup," Corbin said Sunday, when the pair went 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts. "Tough day. So, you know, baseball is tough game sometimes. You just have to regroup and get back and mental standpoint and get back into the game on Tuesday."
Pitching performances
As Vanderbilt's Friday night starter, junior Chris McElvain was electric, racking up 10 strikeouts in just four innings. Sophomore Patrick Reilly relieved him and went four innings with seven strikeouts but also four walks. Reilly, who pitched out of both the rotation and bullpen last season, showed once again his potential to be dominant but also his tendency to lose his command. McElvain, who walked 5.3 batters per nine innings in 2021, walked just one batter Friday. If he can continue his improved command, he could be a top rotation option.
"Feels great," McElvain said Friday. "That's something that we're trying to do our best at, we're trying to compete at the highest level that we can and I think that helping the offense as much as we can is something that's very important."
On Saturday, Maldonado showed his usual good control, with just one walk in four innings, but he gave up six hits and struck out just three. Sophomores Nelson Berkwich and Grayson Moore and grad transfer Jack Anderson showed the ability to be useful bullpen options. Berkwich faced three batters and got two groundouts and a flyout. Moore struck out five and walked one in three innings, and Anderson struck out three and walked one in one inning.
On Sunday, sophomore Christian Little relieved Holton and allowed two baserunners on an error and hit batter but worked out of trouble in his lone inning. Sophomore Hunter Owen allowed five hits and a run in his three innings, but he struck out six and didn't walk anyone.
Junior Thomas Schultz got the save Friday with a perfect inning but was tagged for two runs and the loss Sunday. Though he struck out two, he also allowed a lot of hard contact.
Beyond pitching, the defense is a work in progress. Young is considered one of the top defensive shortstops in the country and did make some tough plays on the weekend, but he also made two errors. Noland and Dominic Keegan also had some misplays.
"It just was just a little sloppy, but we'll get better in that area," Corbin said Sunday. " ... Kids make mistakes and whether it's a focal thing or just trying to rush a play or what have you, it wasn't damning — in certain situations it was — but I just think overall defensively we're just just OK."
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball pitchers have growing pains in Oklahoma State series
