Vanderbilt Commodores

Game Preview: No. 9 Vanderbilt Hosts Middle Tennessee

A trend has emerged for the Commodores with how their midweek performance compares to their performance in the weekend series. Will that continue?
Taylor Hodges|
Vanderbilt's Brodie Johnston (9) tags out Georgia's Slate Alford (44) at third base after a throw from left fielder Rustan Rigdon during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball game at Hawkins Field Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt's Brodie Johnston (9) tags out Georgia's Slate Alford (44) at third base after a throw from left fielder Rustan Rigdon during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball game at Hawkins Field Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. | Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In its last four SEC series, No. 9 Vanderbilt has gone 7-5 with three of the series being sweeps, one of which was the series loss to Arkansas. However, there’s a trend that has emerged in the last month.

The Commodores beat Eastern Kentucky 10-0 in their midweek game before being swept by then-No. 2 Arkansas. They didn’t have as easy a time against Western Kentucky the following week, needing 10 innings to win 5-4. Vanderbilt then went on to sweep Florida on the road.

After sweeping the Gators, Vanderbilt won easily, 9-2, against Dayton and then proceeded to go 1-2 against then-No. 19 Oklahoma during the weekend. A few days after facing the Sooners, the Commodores battled for 10 innings against Lipscomb, winning 5-4.

Vanderbilt then went on to sweep then-No. 3 Georgia in a series that, for the most part, wasn’t very close.

So, when the Commodores have a close midweek game, they have a great weekend series. When the Commodores win their midweek game easily, they struggle in the weekend series. Of course, the midweek game may have no impact on the weekend series, but trends happen for a reason.

And now Vanderbilt hosts Middle Tennessee, who has a losing record (Lipscomb did too), but also beat Western Kentucky 10-3 last Saturday.

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Staring Lineup

1. CF - Eston Snider
2. 3B - Clay Badylak
3. DH - Brett Condoholen
4. C - Tyler Minnick
5. LF - Keaton Ray
6. SS - Matt Wolfe
7. RF - Brett Rogers
8. 1B - Hayden Miller
9. 2B - Cooper Clapp

Pitching Matchup

RHP (2-2, 10.24 ERA, 19.1 IP, 14 SO, 11 BB, 22 ER, vs. RHP Austin Nye (1-0, 1.47 ERA, 30.2 IP, 40 SO, 13 BB, 5 ER, .196 b/avg.)

Weather Report

The Commodores and Blue Raiders will have a partly sunny day to play on with temperatures in the mid 70s. There’s no rain in AccuWeather’s forecast and winds are expected to be minimal with gusts reaching 16 mph. Humidity levels will be at 46 percent at first-pitch.

How to Watch: Middle Tennessee at No. 9 Vanderbilt

Who: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (18-22, 4-11 CUSA) at No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores(30-10, 11-7 SEC)

When: 6 p.m., Tuesday

Where: Hawkins Field, Nashville, Tenn.

TV: SECN+

Radio: Live Radio

Stats: Live Stats

Vanderbilt Commodores On SI:

Published
Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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