Vanderbilt Commodores

Live Blog: No. 18 Alabama at No. 15 Vanderbilt Series Finale

Follow along here for live updates, reaction and analysis from Sunday's rubber match between the Commodores and Crimson Tide at Hawkins Field.
Taylor Hodges|
Vanderbilt players celebrate their win over Alabama at Vanderbilt’s Hawkins Field Friday, May 2, 2025.
Vanderbilt players celebrate their win over Alabama at Vanderbilt’s Hawkins Field Friday, May 2, 2025. | Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Rain, rain go away, come against some other day.

Weather has had an impact on this weekend's series between No. 15 Vanderbilt and No. 18 Alabama, and Sunday's series finale may not avoid that same impact. Nashville experienced some showers earlier Sunday, but there's no rain in the forecast Sunday afternoon (evening and nighttime are different, but the game should be over before any of that comes into play).

Follow along below for live updates, reactions and analysis of the Commodores and Crimson Tide's rubber match Sunday to decide the series winner.

FINAL: No. 15 Vanderbilt 9, No. 18 Alabama 7

(Most recent updates at the top.)

9th Inning

B9: Mike Mancini gets on base with a blooper single to left field (that probably should've been caught, but it is cloudy) and Rustan Rigdon gets hit by a pitch. RJ Austin lays down his first sac bunt of the season to put both runners in scoring position and Brodie Johnston ties the game on a two-out double to the gap in center field to tie the game.

That brought Braden Holcomb up to bat with two outs and the winning run at second after hitting a triple and solo home run in his previous two at-bats. And, of course, he hits a walk-off, home run to center field and completes the come back.

Talk about stealing a win from the jaws of defeat, that's it. Vanderbilt 9, Alabama 7

T9: What an amazing defensive play. Brodie Johnston catches a hard hit line drive and is able to get a runner at second base out. Fantastic defensive play we're accustomed to seeing from Vanderbilt, but huge nonetheless. Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 5

8th Inning

B8: Well, I was about to write about how we're seeing the bad Vanderbilt offense this weekend, but then Braden Holcomb hit a two-out home run. Mac Rose drew a full count walk in the next at-bat and Colin Barczi followed with a home run to right field, cutting Alabama's lead to just two runs. We have a ballgame, folks. Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 5

T8: Sawyer Hawks makes his first appearance since returning to the team and gets a three up, three down inning, including one strikeout. Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 2

7th Inning

B7: With the exception of a throwing error that allowed Rustan Rigdon, Vanderbilt's offense didn't do anything at the plate. Six outs left to do something, though, so it's not over (but I'm not feeling great at this point). Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 2

T7: Vanderbilt gets through the inning without allowing any more runs, but the major concern for the Commodores remains what they're going to do at the plate. And their chances are running out (nine outs left). Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 2

6th Inning

B6: Braden Holcomb, who was a game time decision hits a triple to right field, but is left stranded at third base.

Vanderbilt is bringing in a new pitcher to start the 7th inning, Engalnd Bryan in place of Miller Green. Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 2

T6: Well, that's a rough ending to a great outing by Connor Fennell. He gave up a walk, recorded his ninth strikeout and then gave up a two-run home run to Will Hodo (0-8 for the weekend) while up 0-2 in the count.

Fennell's day is done and Luke Guth is coming into the game and records just one out against three batters (K, single and HBP) before being replaced himself by Miller Green. Alabama gets two more RBI singles to center field to extend its lead to five runs, but RJ Austin makes a perfect throw to third base to get the final out.

And just thinking ahead about what this loss would mean (losing spot as NCAA regional host) and the Commodores' remaining schedule (No. 17 Louisville and series against No. 12 Tennessee and Kentucky)...a comeback win today becomes a lot more important. Alabama 7, Vanderbilt 2

5th Inning

B5: Vanderbilt's offense needs to get going. Outside of Riley Nelson, the Commodores have just two hits and one walk. Alabama's Zane Adams now has six consecutive outs against Vanderbilt batters. Alabama 3, Vanderbilt 2

T5: Connor Fennell bounces back very nicely. He gave up a hit, but also got another strikeout (8 Ks) and no runs scored. He's thrown 72 pitches and should continue to pitch for Vanderbilt. Alabama 3, Vanderbilt 2

4th Inning

B4: Zane Adams follows up his long, high-pitch count inning with an eight-pitch fourth inning. He did give up a leadoff single to Mac Rose, though.

Let's see how Fennell bounces back in the next inning. Alabama 3, Vanderbilt 2

T4: I may have spoken too soon. Back-to-back walks leads to a two-out Garrett Staton home run that puts Alabama ahead by one. Fennell answers back with a strikeout to end the inning, but he threw more pitches in that inning than he had the entire game. Alabama 3, Vanderbilt 2

3rd Inning

B3: Riley Nelson is looking as good at the plate as Fennell is on the mound. He's got two RBIs in two at-bats, the most recent coming on right field single. Vanderbilt 2, Alabama 0

T3: As a sportswriter who likes things to move quickly, I love Connor Fennell's pace. He works fast and usually gets a warning from umpires about pitching too quickly. It also helps he's really good. Five Ks already today. Vanderbilt 1, Alabama 0

2nd Inning

B2: Alabama's Zane Adams is also looking really good, despite the Nelson home run. He's allowed just one other hit and has issued no walks and just got his first strikeout. Vanderbilt 1, Alabama 0

T2: Connor Fennell is wheeling and dealing. He's thrown 24 pitches and has four strikeouts and just one hit (that RJ Austin normally catches). Vanderbilt 1, Alabama 0

1st Inning

B1: TV announcers with a nice bit of foreshadowing. They mentioned the wind flying straight to center field and one pitch later, Riley Nelson hits a home run to center field. Vanderbilt 1, Alabama 0

T1: Not too many people hit a ball towards Vanderbilt center fielder RJ Austin and get on base. But the SEC's batting average leader, Kade Snell, did on a first pitch change up that ended up turning into a triple. But Connor Fennell looks good early with two swinging strikeouts. Vanderbilt 0, Alabama 0

Pregame

Alright folks, let's see what happens today. Taylor Hodges back for the Commodores' series finale against Alabama.

I'm excited to see Connor Fennell pitch and I hope he continues to pitch well. Vanderbilt probably needs him to because we have no idea what kind of offense we'll get at the plate from the Commodores. Vandy fans have to be hoping its the offense from Friday and not Saturday.

First-pitch is coming up soon.

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

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

Alabama Crimson Tide Starting Lineup

  1. Bryce Fowler, RF
  2. Justin Lebron, SS
  3. Kade Snell, LF
  4. Richie Bonomolo Jr., CF
  5. Will Hodo, 1B
  6. Garrett Staton, 2B
  7. Brady Neal, C
  8. Jason Torres, 3B
  9. Coleman Mizell, DH

Pitching Matchup

LHP Zane Adams (6-2, 5.08 ERA, 51.1 IP, 46 SO, 18 BB, 29 ER, .280 b/avg.) vs. RHP Connor Fennell (5-0, 2.38 ERA, 34 IP, 63 SO, 6 BB, 9 ER, .172 b/avg.)

How to Watch

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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