NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt first baseman Parker Noland snapped a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 17th inning on Wednesday with a two-out RBI single to right-center field to help the seventh-ranked Commodores to a 2-1, 17-inning victory over the visiting University of Evansville Purple Aces at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tennessee.
"What a gutsy performance tonight by our guys!" said UE head coach Wes Carroll. "Unfortunately, it just didn't go our way.
"Our pitching was outstanding, and we had some opportunities offensively, but we just didn't get that big hit that we needed. But, tonight was just a great baseball game to be a part of. Unfortunate that it didn't go our way!"
Vanderbilt outfielder R.J. Schreck led off the 17th with a double off the wall in left field. A bunt single by third baseman Davis Diaz followed, but UE reliever Nate Hardman (0-1) nearly got out of the jam. He was able to get back-to-back strikeouts of Jonathan Vastine and T.J. McKenzie, before Noland was able to spoil a 1-2 offering and deliver the game-winning hit.
Evansville actually scored first in the second inning, as fifth-year outfielder Eric Roberts led off with a bunt base hit, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by senior third baseman Brent Widder.
UE starter Shane Harris was sharp, as he allowed just one hit through the first four innings. Vanderbilt would score a run against Harris in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly, but Harris set the tone for the afternoon for UE by allowing just the single run on two hits in 5.0 innings of work.
From there, both bullpens traded scoreless innings, as both teams worked in and out of trouble all afternoon long. UE's best scoring chance in regulation came in the ninth inning, when Roberts led off with a double, and was bunted to third by the next batter. But, Vanderbilt closer Nick Maldonado came on to get a fly out and a strike out to end the threat.
Evansville would load the bases with two outs in the 13th inning, but came up empty. Then, UE got out of a major jam in the bottom half of the frame, as Vanderbilt put the potential winning run on third base with one out, but junior catcher Brendan Hord was able to catch the pinch-runner McKenzie too far off third base for a big second out, before freshman reliever Max Hansmann struck out catcher Alan Espinal to end the frame.
Evansville nearly opened the 17th inning with a run, as fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug hit a towering fly ball to the gap in right-center field. But, the wind, which was blowing in a majority of the game, knocked down the ball, and it was caught just a foot from the 375 sign on the wall.
Offensively, Roberts and Widder had two-hit days for Evansville, with Hug and outfielder Danny Borgstrom coming up with the other two hits for UE. Diaz had three hits on the night for Vanderbilt.
With the victory, the Commodores improve to 10-4 overall, and Vanderbilt has won five of its last six contests. Meanwhile, Evansville (7-6) sees its seven-game winning streak come to an end. The Purple Aces will remain in Tennessee this weekend, as UE will take on Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in a three-game series. The series begins Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. in a game that can be seen live on ESPN+.
