Vanderbilt splits doubleheader with St. Mary's, wins the series

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Vanderbilt split a doubleheader with St. Mary’s on Sunday, winning the weekend series with the Gaels, 2-1, at Hawkins Field on Sunday.

After dropping the first game, 5-1, the Commodores (11-6) roared back to win the second, 9-1.

In Game 2, freshman Drake Fellows pitched eight innings and gave up one unearned run, while third baseman Will Toffey reached base four times and knocked in four runs.

Toffey singled in the third off starter Ty Madrigal, giving Vandy a 2-1 lead, and after the Gaels intentionally walked Julian Infante to get to Toffey in the fourth, the sophomore ripped a triple down the right-field line to make the margin 6-1.

Infante had an RBI single in the third, and designated hitter Reid Hayes, who pitched a scoreless inning in the ninth, drove in a run on a ground out.

Vanderbilt out-hit the Gaels, 13-2, in Game 2, and drew 10 walks.

The Commodores also got great starting pitching in Game 1 when Patrick Raby threw 8 2/3 innings, struck out 11, and gave up five runs.

But just three were earned, and all six hits that Raby yielded were singles. Toffey made a critical throwing error in the fourth, leading to a pair of unearned runs.

St. Mary's starter Jake Valdez held VU scoreless in seven innings of work, scattering six hits. Ethan Paul scored VU's only run in the ninth on Ro Coleman's ground-out.

VU has a Tuesday game with Western Kentucky on Tuesday at Hawkins Field before heading to Ole Miss for a three-game series on Friday to start conference play. Tuesday's game starts at 6:30.