Vols pitching stumbles, UT falls to Vandy

HOOVER, Ala. (WATE) — Tennessee pitching could not slow down Vanderbilt’s offense surrendering 15 hits in a 13-4 loss to the Commodores.

Tennessee struck first on a Hunter Ensley RBI double in the second inning, but the game quickly turned in the third. Vandy scored five runs in the third inning capped by an Alan Espinal three-run home run.

Vandy added another run in the fourth inning. Tennessee had hope in the bottom of the frame when Reese Champan crushed his sixth home run of the season. The Vols were only down 6-4.

The Commodores dealt the dagger in the seventh inning. Espinal sent his second homer of the game over the wall in right-center. Vandy added three more runs in the eighth inning. Jonathan Vastine smacked a dinger just inside the right-field foul pole.

Tennessee only picked up five hits. Three of them were extra base hits.

Nate Snead started his first game of the season. He gave up five earned runs in 2.2 innings of work. The sophomore falls to 8-2 on the season. Six of the eight Tennessee pitchers who saw action gave up at least a run.

UP NEXT: The Vols will face either Texas A&M or Mississippi State in an elimination game on Thursday. The game will start 30 minutes after the Alabama vs. Kentucky game ends.

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