May 6, 2008

Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. -

Vanderbilt 8, Memphis 0

Vanderbilt (35-13)     002 310 110 - 8 10 0
Memphis (16-32)        000 000 000 - 0  3 2

Vanderbilt starter Drew Hayes struck out 12 and faced just two over the minimum, while All-American Pedro Alvarez blasted a pair of home runs as Vanderbilt breezed to a convincing 8-0 win over Memphis at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn., on Tuesday evening. Memphis, 16-32, drops its sixth straight game, while Vanderbilt wins its fourth straight to improve to 35-13.

Both Hayes and Memphis starter Brennon Martin kept the game scoreless through the first two innings, before Alvarez connected for the first of his two shots, a two run opposite field blast over the leftfield wall that put the Commodores ahead 2-0 in the third.

Memphis never threatened as Hayes mowed down the first nine hitters he faced. He gave up one hit, but faced the minimum through 3.2 innings. Eric Farrell broke up the no-hit bid with a single to shallow right centerfield in the third inning. However, he made too big of a turn at first and was thrown out retreating to the bag. Hayes gave up just two hits in his seven-inning outing.

An RBI-double to left by catcher Andrew Robin, followed by a two-run blast off the bat of Brad French made it 5-0 after four innings of play.

Alveraz, who finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, struck with his second round-tripper in the fifth to make it a 6-0 game. This time he belted a mammoth home run over the scoreboard in right centerfield that measured 430'

Dominic de la Osa gave Vanderbilt its fourth and final home run of the night, when he lined a solo shot over the wall in left centerfield. The Commodores used a U of M to tack on the eighth and final run of the night.

Vandy out hit Memphis 10-3 in the game. Farrell was joined by Trey Wiedman and Brett Bowen as the lone Tigers to hit safely. Wiedman had a two-out double in the seventh and Bowen banged out a two-bagger in the ninth.

Jason Cunningham and Mark Lamm each worked scoreless innings of relief. Lamm gave up one hit. The Commodore pitching trio struck out 15 Tigers on the night.

Martin took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in four innings. He fanned four. Ryan Holland worked three innings of relief and allowed two runs. Philip Utley and Garrett Hachtel both put in an inning of work, with Utley striking out two in the eighth.

The game was the first between the two Tennessee school's since the 2001 season.

Memphis will now set its sights on a tough C-USA weekend at Southern Miss. First pitch for Friday night's series opener is set for 7:30 p.m. at USM's Pete Taylor Park.