Live Blog: No. 15 Vanderbilt Hosts No. 18 Alabama

The stormy weather has cleared out for the most part in the Nashville area and No. 15 Vanderbilt and No. 18 Alabama are set to begin their three-game series. The game will start with the forecast giving a 56 percent chance of rain at 8 p.m.

Both the Commodores and Crimson Tide are at 12-9 in SEC play (along with two other teams) and this weekend could potentially see the logjam of teams break up.

Follow along below for live updates, reactions and analysis of Friday night's game between Alabama and Vanderbilt.

FINAL: No. 15 Vanderbilt 12, No. 18 Alabama 2

(Most recent updates at the top)

8th Inning

B8: RJ Austin is having one of his best games ever. He's 4-for-5 and added a three run home run (107 mph speed off the bat) over the big, left field wall to extend the Commodores' lead. They keep adding runs, capping off the run-rule win with a bases-loaded walk. Vanderbilt 12, Alabama 2

T8: It doesn't happen much, but I was wrong. Thompson's night is over and Vanderbilt has brought in LHP Miller Green to, likely, finish off the game.

Good thing the Commodores had built up a lead because Green has given two runs, one unearned. He got a little lucky with a hard hit ground ball directly to Riley Nelson to end the inning two runners on base. Vanderbilt 6, Alabama 2

7th Inning

B7: The Commodores add another pair of runs as the rain is starting to come down steadily. Alabama's Lehman had several pitches way off target, which could've been because of the rain. But the game continues and the Commodores add one more run before the inning ends. Vanderbilt 6, Alabama 0.

T7: A couple weeks ago, JD Thompson threw 120 pitches in eight innings against Georgia and allowed one run on five hits, one walk and 14 strikeouts.

Through seven innings against Alabama tonight, he's thrown 100 pitches and given up two hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts. I expect he'll return in the eighth inning.

And we also have rainfall at the field. Vanderbilt 3, Alabama 0

6th Inning

B6: Vanderbilt breaks the scoreless tie on three-straight singles, with Brodie Johnston getting the RBI. That forces Alabama into a pitching change with Matthew Heiberger coming in from the bullpen.

And now the Commodores play small ball. An Alabama throwing error/fielder's choice put runners at the corners with one and Mac Rose laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that Heiberger didn't field cleanly, allowing a run to score and Rose to reach safely. Vanderbilt 3, Alabama 0

T6: JD Thompson gave up his first extra base hit of the game (that looked like it was head out of the park) and has thrown 86 pitches through six innings. He also has 10 strikeouts. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

5th Inning

B5: Amazing play by Alabama's Garrett Staton at second base to rob Jonathan Vastine of a hit. Second three up, three down for the Commodores. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

T5: JD Thompson has his slider on point tonight. He just struck out the entire side for the second time tonight. Fair to say, at this point, he's having a very good night. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

4th Inning

B4: That was the Commodores' best inning at the plate, but a base running mistake early on was costly. Braden Holcomb hit a hard ground ball back to the pitcher, who was able to catch Riley Nelson in a rundown between third and home. Nelson sprinted back to third, but Brodie Johnston had nearly reached third base (he was standing still for a moment). If Nelson slows down, let's Johnston get to third base, Vanderbilt has runners at the corner with one out. So, in the next at-bat, instead of Mac Rose flying out to left field, it would've be a sacrifice fly. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

T4: And there goes the no-hitter on a two-out single to left centerfield. Of course, on the very next pitch, Thompson gets a fly out to end the inning. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

3rd Inning

B3: It's still too early to get worried, but Vanderbilt fans I imagine wouldn't mind seeing more base runners. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

T3: Well, Thompson lost the perfect game on a one-out walk. Maybe it's the uniform? Last week, Vanderbilt opted to wear their gold uniforms in the first game against Ole Miss. This week, they went back to the black with gold pin stripes (that I absolutely love) for the Friday game.

It probably has no impact, but interesting nonetheless. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

2nd Inning

B2: The Commodores aren't making a lot of contact, but the contact has been hard hit balls. Some are fly outs. Two have gone for hits, though. Still scoreless. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

T2: Oh, if this is the version of JD Thompson we're getting, Alabama is about to have a very long night. All three outs were strikeouts and his stuff is looking good. He's gotten behind in the count a couple of times, but has come back to strikeout the batter each time. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

1st Inning

B1: I'm not too worried about Vanderbilt's pitching, at least not in comparison to the offense. Will we see the offense that showed up against Georgia? Or the one against Ole Miss?

One inning is too early to declare either way, but it was a positive inning. RJ Austin hit hard line drive down the right field line and Riley Nelson nearly hit a home run. But game remains scoreless. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

T1: JD Thompson starts off good. No baserunners allowed and one strikeout. But like we saw last week, a big inning can happen any time so we'll wait a while before declaring this a good outing or not. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

Pregame

Taylor: Looking at the weather forecast, we shouldn't have any interruptions unless the game lasts until very late into the night. First pitch is coming up soon.

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

Rustan Rigdon, LF
RJ Austin, CF
Riley Nelson, 1B
Brodie Johnston, 3B
Braden Holcomb, RF
Mac Rose, DH
Colin Barczi, C
Jonathan Vastine, SS
Mike Mancini, 2B

Alabama Crimson Tide Starting Lineup

Bryce Fowler, RF
Justin Lebron, SS
Kade Snell, LF
Richie Bonomolo Jr., CF
Coleman Mizell, DH
Garrett Station, 2B
Will Hodo, 1B
Jason Torres, 3B
Brady Neal, C

Pitching Matchup

RHP Tyler Fay (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 30 IP, 22 SO, 7 BB, 15 ER, .281 b/avg.) vs. LHP JD Thompson (3-4, 4.42 ERA, 59 IP, 77 SO, 19 BB, 29 ER, .241 b/avg.)

How to Watch: No. 18 Alabama at No. 15 Vanderbilt

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Where: Hawkins Field, Nashville, Tenn.

TV: SECN+

Radio: Live Radio

Stats: Live Stats