Vanderbilt Commodores

How to Watch: No. 19 Vanderbilt Hosts No. 5 Georgia

The Bulldogs arrive in Nashville with a nation's best 100 home runs, but have to best the Commodores' pitching staff.
Taylor Hodges|
Vanderbilt University sophomore JD Thompson (22) pitches to Coastal Carolina University in the second inning during the NCAA Clemson Regional baseball game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Vanderbilt University sophomore JD Thompson (22) pitches to Coastal Carolina University in the second inning during the NCAA Clemson Regional baseball game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. | Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images

Even though its pitchers had a rough couple of outings last weekend, No. 19 Vanderbilt’s strength still lies with its pitching staff.

The Commodores still rank inside the top 10 nationally in several pitching categories, including No. 8 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.96) and No. 4 in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9). They also haven’t allowed many home runs this season with only 33 in 37 games (.89 per game).

That’ll get tested this weekend against the nation’s leader in home runs, No. 5 Georgia. The Bulldogs have hit 100 total home runs and a nation’s best 2.6 per game. They also just won a pair of games against No. 2 Arkansas last weekend, a team that swept the Commodores at Hawkins Field.

The Commodores have also thrown a combined 418 strikeouts and have four pitchers with 40 or more strikeouts (two with 55 or more). Georgia batters are averaging 8.64 strikeouts per game and 5.94 walks per game.

The big question will be if last weekend’s first-inning struggles were an anomaly or a sign of what’s to come (take away those two innings and we could be writing about Vanderbilt’s sweep at Oklahoma instead). If it was a one-time occurrence, the Commodores will have a chance. If not, we may see some balls fly over that left field wall.

Here’s everything you need to know to watch Tuesday’s midweek game between the Commodores and Bulldogs:

How to Watch: No. 5 Georgia at No. 19 Vanderbilt

Who: No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (33-6, 10-5 SEC) at No. 19 Vanderbilt Commodores (27-10, 8-7 SEC)

When: 6 p.m., Thursday

Where: Hawkins Field, Nashville, Tenn.

TV: SECN+

Radio: Live Radio

Stats: Live Stats

Series: Georgia leads the all-time series 127-123

Last Meeting: Vanderbilt 13, Lipscomb 3 (2024)

Last time out, Commodores: def. Lipscomb, 5-4 (10 innings)

Last time out, Bulldogs: def. No. 14 Georgia Tech, 5-2

Vanderbilt Commodores On SI:

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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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