Vanderbilt Commodores

Live Updates: No. 19 Vanderbilt Hosts No. 5 Georgia

Follow along here for live updates, reactions and analysis of Thursday night's game between the Commodores and Bulldogs.
Taylor Hodges|
Vanderbilt’s Brodie Johnston (9) celebrates with Nate Teague after hitting a 2-run home run during the second inning of an NCAA college baseball fall intrasquad game at Hawkins Field Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt’s Brodie Johnston (9) celebrates with Nate Teague after hitting a 2-run home run during the second inning of an NCAA college baseball fall intrasquad game at Hawkins Field Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. | Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 19 Vanderbilt faces one of its biggest challenges of the season when No. 5 Georgia takes the field with a nation's best 100 home runs. The Commodores' pitching staff has given up just 33 home runs this season, so something may have to break.

Follow along below for live updates, reactions and analysis of the series-opening game between the Commodores and Bulldogs.

Live Updates

(Most recent updates at the top.)

FINAL: No. 19 Vanderbilt 3, No. 5 Georgia 1

9th Inning

T9: Sawyer Hawks comes in to pitch for Vanderbilt after JD Thompson throws 120 pitches in eight innings. Hawks gets his fifth save of the season without allowing any base runners. Vanderbilt 3, Georgia 1

8th Inning

B8: Braden Holcomb adds an insurance run for Vanderbilt and forces Georgia to use another pitcher (the fifth of the game). The Commodores are now three outs away from a big upset. Vanderbilt 3, Georgia 1

T8: At this point, you have to be hoping Vanderbilt lets JD Thompson keep pitching in the ninth inning. He's thrown 113 pitches, but has 14 strikeouts and has held a team that averages 2.5 home runs per game to just one (and it was the Bulldogs' only run). Vanderbilt 2, Georgia 1

7th Inning


B7: Vanderbilt's offense has forced three pitching changes while having recorded just one out. The Commodores tied the game up with a solo home run from Brodie Johnston and a Rustan Rigdon single chases Brian Curley from the game. Curley ended with one run on three hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. The Bulldogs go through two more pitchers before ending the inning with two runners in scoring position for Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt 2, Georgia 1

T7: JD Thompson continues his strong outing with all three outs in the inning coming via strikeout. He now has 12 strikeouts in the game. It's a great performance from Thompson, even if you don't take away that one pitch in the first inning. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

6th Inning

B6: Vanderbilt gets a third base runner into scoring position, but isn't able to get them across home plate. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

T6: Georgia gets two batters on base for Ryland Zaborowski, the nation's home run leader, with one out and Thompson gets a strikeout (and another) to end the inning. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

5th Inning

B5: Great piece of base running by Rustan Rigdon going from first to third on Colin Barczi's groundout. But Jacob Humphrey struck out to end the inning and leave a second base runner at third base. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

T5: Georgia gets its second hit of the game, but this one was far less damaging, a single to right field. Thompson would end the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, giving him seven in the game. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

4th Inning

B4: Vanderbilt's offense continues to perform like it has for most of the season: not doing much. The Commodores have just one hit through four innings. Fortunately, the Bulldog's high-powered offense has been (mostly) held in check by JD Thompson. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

T4: Of course when I point out there haven't been any walks, Georgia draws a walk in the first at-bat of the inning. But Thompson escapes without allowing the runner to advance past first base. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

3rd Inning

B3: And we officially have a pitcher's duel on our hands. Vanderbilt goes three up, three down to end the inning. There have been a combined two hits, no walks and nine strikeouts. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

T3: JD Thompson gets through another relatively easy inning. Three-straight outs on 10 pitches including a first-pitch fly out to right field by Slate Alford. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

2nd Inning

B2: The Commodores went three up, three down in the bottom half of the inning. And if you're not concerned yet, all three outs were strikeouts. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

T2: JD Thompson is quickly showing his last start was an anomaly. He struck out the first batter of the inning, got a quick, infield pop fly and forced a groundout to end the inning with just 11 pitches thrown. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

1st Inning

B1: Vanderbilt's first two batters flew out and struck out, but Riley Nelson hit his first triple of the season that just got past Georgia's center fielder's diving attempt. However, he ended up stranded at third base when Brodie Johnston struck out to the end inning. If this game ends up being a close one, that LOB will be critical. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

T1: Well, with the exception of one pitch, JD Thompson looked great. He got the leadoff batter, Slate Alford, into an 0-2 count and gave up a home run but then struck out the next three batters. Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0

Pregame

Taylor Hodges back for another Vanderbilt SEC baseball game. We're not too far away from first-pitch and I'm excited to see which version of the Commodores we see tonight. To be more specific, I'm excited to see how Vanderbilt's pitchers (especially JD Thompson) handle the nation's leader in total home runs and home runs per game.

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

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

Georgia Bulldogs Starting Lineup

  1. Slate Alford, 3B
  2. Kolby Branch, SS
  3. Christian Adams, 2B
  4. Ryland Zaborowski, 1B
  5. Nolan McCarthy, LF
  6. Robbie Burnett, RF
  7. Tre Phelps, DH
  8. Devin Obee, CF
  9. Henry Hunter, C

Pitching Matchup

RHP Brian Curley (2-0, 3.48 ERA, 33.2 IP, 43 SO, 15, 13 ER, .147 b/avg.) vs. LHP JD Thompson (2-3, 4.44 ERA, 46.2 IP 56 SO, 17 BB, 23 ER, . 236 b/avg.)

How to Watch

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.

Home/Baseball