Vanderbilt and Missouri each claimed a win in the first two games of their baseball series on May 10 after Friday’s suspended game was resumed before Game 2.
Both matchups were decided in extra innings. Missouri won the opener 8-7 in ten innings, while Vanderbilt responded with an 11-8 victory in eleven innings to even the series.
In Game 1, Vanderbilt built a five-run lead before Missouri rallied to take the advantage in the eighth inning. The Commodores tied it up again in the ninth as heavy fog forced play to be suspended until Saturday afternoon. Connor Fennell struck out eight batters over seven innings for Vanderbilt, holding Missouri to five hits and one run. Braden Holcomb hit his fourteenth home run of the season, setting a new program record for team homers at 101.
The Tigers surged ahead with six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Visibility issues due to dense fog led umpires and coaches to meet on the field during late innings. In a statement released by the SEC, “the umpires ruled that the play was a ground-rule double, scoring the runner from second base. After video review, the call on the field was upheld as no video evidence was available to overturn the call due to low visibility.” Play resumed Saturday with both teams tied at seven runs apiece until Donovan Jordan singled home Missouri’s winning run in extra innings.
In Game 2, Vanderbilt took an early lead but trailed after Missouri scored eight unanswered runs through four innings. The Commodores narrowed that gap starting in sixth inning action led by Logan Johnstone’s home run and continued offensive efforts from Tommy Goodin and Rustan Rigdon. Weather delays interrupted play for over an hour before Alex Kranzler delivered nearly five scoreless relief frames with seven strikeouts.
Rustan Rigdon’s solo homer tied things at eight apiece before Ryker Waite hit a go-ahead home run for Vanderbilt during an eleventh-inning rally that secured their win. Johnstone finished three-for-five with four RBI; Waite went three-for-six with two RBI and scored twice.
The teams are scheduled to meet Sunday afternoon for a decisive third game.
