Godfrey's Double In Ninth Lifts Vandy To 4-3 Win
March 15, 2003 | Baseball
| Steve Gendron extended his current hitting streak to eight games with a two-hit day. |
Godfrey's game-winning hit capped a comeback for the Commodores, who trailed 3-1 after six innings.
Vanderbilt broke a scoreless deadlock with a run off MSU starter Alan Johnson in the fourth inning. Cesar Nicolas doubled into left field, advanced to third on a balk, and came home on Worth Scott's double play groundout.
MSU, after failing to score in the second on consecutive singles by Brad Corley, Brent Lewis and J.B. Tucker, erupted for three runs when the same trio of Bulldogs hit safely to open the fourth inning. Corley singled up the middle, Lewis doubled into the left field corner, and both scored on Tucker's double to left. Tucker later scored on Joseph Hunter's sacrifice fly to left.
Vanderbilt tightened the game at 3-2 with a run in the sixth when Scott doubled to right and scored later on Matthew Brinson's errant throw at first base.
| Saunders Ramsey struck out three in 1 1/3 innings of relief. |
State made a bid to knot the score in the ninth. J.B. Tucker opened the inning with a single, was bunted over to second and moved to third on Joseph Hunter's fly ball to center field. But relief pitcher John Scott, in his second inning of relief work, retired Matthew Maniscalco on an infield fly ball to end the game.
Scott (1-0) allowed two base runners in two innings of relief work. VU starter Robert Ranson scattered nine hits, struck out five and was charged with all three runs during his seven-inning stint.
State starter Alan Johnson gave up two runs on seven hits with three walks, the first of his MSU career.
Nicolas went 3-for-4 with a double to pace Vandy at the plate. The Bulldogs out-hit Vanderbilt 10-9 and got a career-high three hits from catcher J.B. Tucker. Brad Corley singled twice and Steve Gendron extended his current hitting streak to eight games with a pair of hits.
VANDERBILT 4, MISSISSIPPI STATE 3
VU 000 101 002 -- 4-9-0MSU 000 300 000 -- 3-10-2
WP -- John Scott (1-0). LP -- Robby Goodson (0-1). T -- 3:08. ATT -- 6,005 (paid), 2,601 (actual).
