Live Updates: No. 2 Arkansas at No. 14 Vanderbilt, Game 1
Like pretty much every other sport, more than a couple of the nation's best baseball teams reside in the SEC. All but five teams ranked in top 15 of D1Baseball.com's Top 25 are SEC teams and two will meet at Hawkins Field tonight.
No. 14 Vanderbilt hosts No. 2 Arkansas at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. We'll have live updates, analysis and reactions throughout the game right here.
Click here to see the starting lineups for both Arkansas and Vanderbilt, as well as the starting pitcher matchup, injury report and weather report.
Live Updates
(Most recent updates at the top.)
Bottom 9th: Vanderbilt would get a runner on base in the final half inning of play but couldn't follow it up with any more offense and the Commodores have suffered their first shutout at home since 2022. Arkansas 9, Vanderbilt 0
Top 9th: Former Commodore Camden Kozeal continues to make his loss sting more with a two-run single and put Arkansas well ahead of Vanderbilt. Arkansas 9, Vanderbilt 0
Bottom 8th: Vanderbilt gets its first extra-base hit against Root with Rustan Rigdan hitting a double off the left field wall in a pinch-hit situation. Vastine would strikeout in the next at-bat, but Mike Mancini drew a full-count walk to give the Commodores multiple baserunners for the first time.
After a second-straight walk, Root was relieved after throwing 100 pitches by Aiden Jimenz, who faced the exact same situation as Guth in the top half of the inning, with two outs and the bases loaded. He got RJ Austin to fly out to left field to end the inning. Arkansas 6, Vanderbilt 0
Top 8th: Hudson Barton enters the game to pitch for Vanderbilt. It's Barton's fifth appearance this season. The freshman struck out the first batter he faced, but ended up issuing a hit and three walks, including one bases-loaded walk to extend the Arkansas lead, which would be the final batter Barton faced. Barton was relieved by Luke Guth, who entered the game facing a two-out, bases loaded situation and escaped with a ground out to third base. Arkansas 6, Vanderbilt 0
Bottom 7th: Possibly, a game-turning play and review. Brodie Johnston reached base on a single to left field and was called out at second base on Riley Nelson's ground ball. It was a close play, but the review confirmed the call on the field (but it was really close and worthy of a challenge). Nelson would advance to second on a passed ball, but the Commodores couldn't break the shutout. Arkansas 5, Vanderbilt 0
Top 7th: Vanderbilt brings in Brennan Seiber in relief of Thompson. Thompson will end the game with 4.62 ERA and six strikeouts, but gave up three home runs (to one of the nation's best home run-hitting teams).
"When technology doesn't speed up the pace of play." Perfect quote from the tv commentators about the continuous issues Vanderbilt has experienced with the PitchCom system.
Seiber eventually ends the inning without allowing any runs across, but did give up two walks.
Bottom 6th: Root continues his dominant pitching performance with three-up, three-down, nine-pitch inning. He's got six strikeouts, so far, and has allowed just one hit and one walk. Arkansas 5, Vanderbilt 0
Top 6th: Facing the batters he's already given up home runs to, Thompson got one to ground out. But Kozeal might just have some extra motivation as he hit his second home run of the game to extend the Razorbacks' lead. Arkansas 5, Vanderbilt 0
Bottom 5th: Vanderbilt ended Root's no-hitter with a Mac Rose single, but Holcomb grounded out into an inning-ending double play. Arkansas 4, Vanderbilt 0
Top 5th: Much better inning from Thompson on the mound. Arkansas went three up, three down in the game and Thompson recorded his sixth strikeout of the game. Arkansas 4, Vanderbilt 0
Bottom 4th: Vanderbilt needs to find a way to get runners on base. The Commodores have been good at playing small ball, but they're still hitless after four innings of play. Arkansas 4, Vanderbilt 0
Top 4th: Arkansas may strikeout often, but the Razorbacks also hit a ton of home runs and Logan Maxwell hit the team's 58th home run in the first at-bat of the inning. Arkansas 2, Vanderbilt 0
Thompson would walk the next batter and then former Vanderbilt player Cam Kozeal hit a two-run home run with no outs, giving Arkansas a 4-0 lead. Thompson remains in the game following a mound visit.
The Commodores manage to get out of the inning without any further damage done, highlighted by a great run-and-catch by RJ Austin in center field.
Bottom 3rd: Another three up, three down inning for Root and the Razorbacks. Fly out, ground out and a strikeout set the Commodores down in order.
Top 3rd: Arkansas gets the first hit of the game, with catcher Ryder Helfrick hitting a triple off the right field wall that was just out of the reach of Jacob Humphrey. Nolan Souza would drive in Helfrick in the next at-bat on a first-pitch groundout. No. 9 hitter Justin Thomas Jr. gets a one out single
It was always unrealistic to think the Razorbacks would be held scoreless (although Vanderbilt fans shouldn't be faulted for hoping for that). But now the Commodores need their offense to break through. It is a little concerning that Thompson wasn't as sharp in this inning, but did get his fifth strikeout of the game.
Bottom 2nd: Thompson is looking great for Vanderbilt, but Arkansas pitcher Zach Root. He struck out one batter in the second inning. He did give up a two out walk that didn't result in any more offense.
Top 2nd: Add two more strikeouts for Thompson on your scorecard. The Commodores got the third out on an unassisted groundout to first base. Thompson continues to look great.
Arkansas has averaged nearly eight strikeouts per game this season and are already halfway to that mark.
Bottom 1st: Jacob Humphrey starts off with a first-pitch groundout to third base and RJ Austin hits a similar groundout to third base in the next at-bat. Brodie Johnston struck out to end the inning.
Top 1st: Great start for JD Thompson on the mound. Forced a flyout to Arkansas' first batter and then struck out the No. 2 and No. 3 hitters. You really couldn't ask for a better for first half inning.
Also, Diego Pavia could fill in an emergency role for Vanderbilt should they need him, based on his first pitch before Friday's game:
Diego Pavia’s first pitch (he’s wearing a Walker Buehler Red Sox jersey) pic.twitter.com/1TUvHMS5T4
— Aria Gerson (@aria_gerson) March 28, 2025
Bringing the heat for today’s first pitch! pic.twitter.com/gV0g9asEl8
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) March 29, 2025
Pregame: Taylor Hodges here to provide updates, analysis and reactions to tonight's SEC baseball game between Vanderbilt and Arkansas.
Vanderbilt Commodores On SI:
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.