Vanderbilt Commodores

Live Blog: Kentucky at No. 9 Vanderbilt (Game One)

Follow along here for live updates, reactions and analysis of tonight's SEC series opening game between the Commodores and Wildcats.
Taylor Hodges|
Vanderbilt outfielder RJ Austin throws a ball during a Wednesday practice at Hawkins Field ahead of the Commodores' final SEC series of the season.
Vanderbilt outfielder RJ Austin throws a ball during a Wednesday practice at Hawkins Field ahead of the Commodores' final SEC series of the season. | Vanderbilt Athletic

Nearly every SEC series this weekend is important in one way or another and Kentucky at No. 9 Vanderbilt is no different. The Commodores probably already have a NCAA Regional host spot locked up, but fortunes can change quickly. Vanderbilt is also playing for a top four seed in the SEC Tournament, that would give the Commodores two byes in tournament.

Follow along below for live updates, reactions and analysis of tonight's game below.

FINAL: Vanderbilt 8, Kentucky 7

9th Inning

B9: Braden Holcomb is a beast. If he comes up to bat in a walk-off scenario, watch out.

Holcomb was down to his last strike and blasted a three-run home run to walk it off for the Commodores. Just...wow...what a fun game. Vanderbilt 8, Kentucky 7

T9: Luke Geth comes in for the final inning and throws 11 total pitches for a three up, three down and now we're set up for another (potentially) great comeback. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

8th Inning

B8: The Commodores don't need a lot of runs, but they do need base runners and that's not something they got in this inning. Three up, three down at the plate and Vanderbilt has just three outs left to comeback. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

T8: Vanderbilt gets a scoreless inning, which is what it needed.

One thing to note, the Commodores haven't used any of their best relievers. It's the smart decision considering how this game is going, but it's great to see someone like Levi Huesman pitch two scoreless innings and record three strikeouts. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

7th Inning

B7: Vanderbilt had the top of its lineup come to the plate this inning, got two runners on base but didn't score any runs. That's now seven runners left on base for the Commodores. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

T7: England Bryan shut down the Wildcats in the sixth inning, but let the first two batters on base and he's been relieved by Levi Huesman.

Huesman loads the bases on a fielding error (second of the game by Vanderbilt), but then gets a strikeout and forces a ground ball, double play to end the inning with the bases loaded.

An absolutely beautifully turned double play. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

6th Inning

B6: A three up, three down inning isn't what Vanderbilt needed, but there's still plenty of time to score at least two runs. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

T6: England Bryan comes in to pitch for Vanderbilt and gets three-straight strikeouts. After the offensive output, that's the perfect defensive inning for the Commodores. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

5th Inning

B5: And as soon as I typed those last words, the Commodores make me eat them.

Vanderbilt scores three runs, including two RBIs by two of its best hitters, RJ Austin and Brodie Johnston. We have a ball game again, folks. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 5

T5: Kentucky gets another run across home plate, extending its lead to five runs. It's been an uncharacteristically poor game from Vanderbilt's pitchers. There's time for that change and the Commodores have done it before. But this doesn't feel good. Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 2

4th Inning

B4: Vanderbilt really needs to get runners on base with less than two outs. Jonathan Vastine hit a triple, but a fly out two pitches later ended that scoring chance. Kentucky 6, Vanderbilt 2

T4: Jacob Humphrey nearly makes another highlight reel catch in right field, but just misses a diving catch attempt. Kentucky shows off its own base-stealing ability with Cole Hage stealing third and then scoring on a throwing error by Colin Barczi. Kentucky 6, Vanderbilt 2

3rd Inning

B3: There was two outs recorded already, but Vanderbilt's offense has arrived. Riley Nelson hits a two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to three runs. That's the proof of life we were looking for from the Commodores' offense. Kentucky 5, Vanderbilt 2

T3: Seiber gives up a leadoff single, that advances to third on back-to-back groundouts, but a fly out ends the inning. No runs allowed is a win for Vanderbilt, but the offense needs to get runners on base with less than two outs. Kentucky 5, Vanderbilt 0

2nd Inning

B2: The Commodores get a second hit, but with two outs there isn't much they're able to do with it. Kentucky 5, Vanderbilt 0

T2: Vanderbilt's biggest strength is its pitching staff. We haven't seen the Commodores' best pitchers, but it hasn't been pretty. Brennan Seiber, in relief of Austin Nye, gave up a full-count walk and hit a batter with the very next pitch. Seiber didn't give up a run, though, so there's that. Kentucky 5, Vanderbilt 0

1st Inning

B1: Vanderbilt got a couple hard hit balls, but their two best went straight to Kentucky fielders, including one on the centerfield wall. It's a good sign and if those types of hits end up as hits and not outs, the 5-0 deficit is surmountable. Kentucky 5, Vanderbilt 0

T1: Well, that's not the greatest start for Austin Nye. Infield single, batter hit-by-a-pitch, and a full-count RBI double in the first three at-bats was a rough start. Then Nye gives up a three-run home run to James McCoy, putting Kentucky ahead 4-0 without any outs recorded.

Uh oh. Nye got a strikeout and then gives up his second home run to Carson Hansen. Brennan Seiber is warming up in the bullpen for Vanderbilt. Nye gets a second strikeout, but a four-pitch walk ends his SEC debut way, way earlier than anyone expected.

Nye is only a freshman going up against his first SEC lineup and . This experience will help him later next week in Hoover or even in the NCAA Tournament. And it's not impossible for the Commodores to comeback in the bottom half of the inning. But it's certainly a steep hill to climb. Kentucky 5, Vanderbilt 0

Pregame

Taylor: Time flies when you're having fun doesn't it? Or does time just move faster the older you get? Either way, this season feels like it has flown by and now we're at the end of the regular season. Why this series is important has already been covered, so here are three things I'm looking forward to seeing tonight: 1. Austin Nye's weekend rotation and SEC debut; 2. The battle of the SEC's best base-stealing teams; and 3. Will Vanderbilt's offense show up? That last one is somewhat unfair after the awesome showing it had last weekend against Tennessee. But can the Commodores continue that momentum and not look like it did in the first game against Tennessee? We'll find out soon with first-pitching coming up soon.

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

  1. Rustan Rigdon, 2B
  2. RJ Austin, CF
  3. Riley Nelson, 1B
  4. Brodie Johnston, 3B
  5. Braden Holcomb, LF
  6. Colin Barczi, C
  7. Jonathan Vastine, SS
  8. Jacob Humphery, RF
  9. Mike Mancini, DH

Kentucky Wildcats Starting Lineup

  1. Tyler Bell, SS
  2. Luke Lawrence, 2B
  3. Cole Hage, LF
  4. James McCoy, 1B
  5. Patrick Herrera, 3B
  6. Carson Hansen, CF
  7. Ryan Schwartz, RF
  8. Kyuss Gargett, DH
  9. Raphael Pelletier, C

Pitching Matchup

RHP Nate Harris (4-2, 4.20 ERA, 49.1 IP, 35 SO, 21 BB, 23 ER, .227 b/avg) vs. RHP Austin Nye (2-0, 2.03 ERA, 44.1 IP, 51 SO, 18 BB, 10 ER, .205 b/avg)

How to Watch: Kentucky at No. 9 Mississippi State

When: 6 p.m., Thursday

Where: Hawkins Field, Nashville, Tenn.

TV: SECN+

Radio: Live Radio

Stats: Live Stats

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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