NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt rallied from a six-run deficit Sunday before falling 8-7 to Mississippi State in the series finale at Hawkins Field.
The Dores trailed 6-0 after four innings and pulled even with a six-run sixth inning before taking a one-run lead in the seventh. The Bulldogs retook the lead with a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth to win by one.
The Bulldogs put a pair on base in the third and cashed in with a two-run double. Later in the inning a three-run homer would give the visitors a 5-0 lead.
Mississippi State made it 6-0 with a solo homer in the top of the fourth.
The Vanderbilt offense came alive in a big way in the bottom of the sixth. Braden Holcomb helped the Dores enter the scoring column with a leadoff double. Holcomb moved up to third on a passed ball and scored on a double by Jonathan Vastine.
Vastine came around from second on a single up the middle by RJ Austin, cutting Mississippi State’s lead down to four. After Austin moved up on a passed ball, Alan Espinal kept the scoring going with a one-out single that scored Austin from second.
Troy LaNeve delivered the big hit with Espinal on second and Colin Barczi on first, blasting a three-run homer to left-center to bring the Dores even at 6-6.
LaNeve doing the late in the game thing again 😳🫡 pic.twitter.com/55OeyCkEaZ
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) April 28, 2024
After trailing by six, the Dores jumped in front, 7-6, in the bottom of the seventh with a run off a fielder’s choice by Espinal that allowed Holcomb to score from third.
Mississippi State’s go-ahead, two-run homer by Hunter Hines in the top of the ninth clinched the series for the Bulldogs with an 8-7 victory.
The Commodores wrap up an eight-game homestand Tuesday against Tennessee Tech at Hawkins Field.