Vanderbilt Baseball Opens SEC Play: The Anchor

The college baseball calendar has officially turned to conference play as Vanderbilt hosts No. 13 LSU this weekend to open SEC play.

The two teams did not play each other in a series a season ago, but Vanderbilt did beat LSU in a series in 2024, the last time the two schools met during conference play. This season, both LSU and Vanderbilt have had their own struggles heading into conference-opening weekend.

LSU enters this weekend with a 2-4 record in its last six games, including losing a series to Sacramento State a week ago. Suddenly, the once No. 2 ranked Tigers have found themselves in a spot of adversity.

Vanderbilt will hope to give LSU more struggles this weekend, but it will not be easy. The Commodores have had their fair share of struggles and adversity this season as well. Vanderbilt enters conference play with a 11-7 record and coming off a 14-6 win over Indiana State in a game where it had to come back down 6-2 to win.

What has been among the biggest issues for Vanderbilt this season is its injuries, especially to its pitching staff. Austin Nye, a starting pitcher that would be in the normal rotation, is still out and is not scheduled to pitch this weekend. Additionally, Vanderbilt also has been dealing with injuries to pitchers Miller Green and Matthew Shorey since the beginning of the season.

The Commodores are going to need to find stability and consistency in its pitching rotation. Perhaps that can be found this weekend. Vanderbilt and LSU begin their series tonight at 6 p.m. CT.

Countdown to Vanderbilt’s 2026 Football Season Opener

176 days

The Anchor: Friday, March 13, 2026

Vanderbilt bowling has announced that it has hired Josie Barnes to be its new head coach next season after current head coach John Williamson retires at the end of the season.

Vanderbilt baseball’s starting pitching rotation for opening weekend is Connor Fennell, Wyatt Nadeau and Nate Taylor. The Commodores begin a three-game series against LSU Friday.

In the first in-season college baseball NCAA Tournament bracketology, Vanderbilt is listed as one of the first four teams out of the tournament, according to college baseball analyst Michael Beutell.

Thursday’s Commodores Results

There were no games played yesterday.

Friday’s Commodores Schedule

Vanderbilt men’s tennis vs. No. 18 Auburn, 1 p.m. CT

No. 4 seed Vanderbilt men’s basketball vs. No. 5 seed Tennessee, Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Vanderbilt women’s tennis at Mississippi State, 3 p.m. CT.

Vanderbilt baseball vs. No. 13 LSU, Game 1 at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

Vanderbilt swimming at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, Day 2.

Vanderbilt track and field at the NCAA Indoor Championships, Day 1.

Commodores Quote of The Day

“The first couple of years here, I wondered at times. We used to blame a loss on the coaching staff. Now if we lose, we're going to blame it on ourselves. We're more together this year."
Jan Van Breda Kolff

We’ll Leave You With This…

24hrs ⏰ pic.twitter.com/X8vQTHbFmi
— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) March 12, 2026

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