Vanderbilt baseball wins regional opener vs. Eastern Illinois, advances to play Oregon
Vanderbilt baseball won its regional opener Friday for the eighth time in nine regionals it has hosted. The Commodores used a few bursts of offense along with effective pitching to secure the 12-2 victory over Eastern Illinois.
Vanderbilt hit two home runs and three doubles in the win while drawing seven walks and striking out just six times, though Davis Diaz and RJ Austin both committed errors.
In a relatively uneventful game, the Commodores (42-18) nevertheless cruised to a comfortable win and will advance to the winners bracket. They will face Oregon on Saturday (8 p.m. CT, SEC Network).
Top of the lineup sparks
Enrique Bradfield Jr. got things going for Vanderbilt's offense right off the bat, leading off with a single and then going to third on a double from Davis Diaz. Both runners scored on an RJ Schreck sacrifice fly, then a Parker Noland single.
Vanderbilt batted around in a six-run third inning that started with an Enrique Bradfield Jr. double and a Davis Diaz home run. Then, three walks, a hit batter and a bases-clearing double from Alan Espinal added onto the lead.
Jonathan Vastine hit a two-run homer of his own in the seventh inning to provide more insurance.
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Futrell inefficient, but effective
Commodores starter Devin Futrell gave up a run in the first inning, allowing a triple and a double to the first two batters he faced. But he settled down after that, generally pitched well. He was uncharacteristically inefficient with his pitch count, lasting through just five innings and getting pulled after giving up back-to-back singles in the sixth. Futrell gave up two runs, only one of which was earned, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
He was replaced in the sixth by Thomas Schultz, who finished the game with four shutout innings.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball beats EIU in regional opener, to face Oregon
