Vanderbilt couldn't solve South Carolina starter Adam Hill, who threw six no-hit innings as the Gamecocks beat VU, 6-1, in the last of a three-game series at Founder's Park in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday.
Carolina second baseman L.T. Tolbert based a three-run home run off Vanderbilt starter Drake Fellows in the second, providing more than enough offense.
Vanderbilt won the first two games of the series, but fell to 21-12, and 6-6 in the Southeastern Conference.
Hill struck out 11, and was lifted in the seventh after walking VU third baseman Will Toffey. From start to finish, the Commodores had trouble seeing Hill's high fastball, which sat 90-91 and resulted in one swinging strike after another.
Vanderbilt got its lone run off reliever Josh Reagan when Reed Hayes singled home Toffey in the seventh.
Things came apart for Fellows in the second. Catcher Chris Cullen was credited with a single on an infield pop-up that landed in the grass after Toffey lost it in the sky. Designated hitter Carlos Cortes followed with a solid single and then Tolbert hit a pitch well over the wall in right for a 3-0 lead.
Fellows was chased in the third after T.J. Hopkins led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Alex Destino.
Vandy's Maddux Conger threw three scoreless innings in relief of Fellows, but Zach King walked Madison Stokes, then gave up a double to Matt Williams, to start the seventh. Penn Murfee then gave up a single to Hopkins, and a run-scoring ground-out to Destino.
Vanderbilt hitters struck out 13 times on Saturday, while VU pitchers struck out only two Carolina hitters.
The Commodores travel to Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday in a game that starts at 7 in Murfreesboro.