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Vanderbilt baseball dropped a series to No. 20 Texas A&M, winning the first game 14-8 but losing both games of the April 3 doubleheader, 8-4 and 12-0.
The Commodores (19-14, 6-6 SEC) got strong offensive performances but couldn't find enough on the mound to hold down the Aggies. Walks were especially a culprit, as Texas A&M managed to turn them into multi-run homers.
Vanderbilt is attempting to dig out of a hole created by a poor non-conference performance, but the problems the Commodores have had getting production out of a shorthanded pitching staff persisted, especially in the third game.
Here's what we learned:
The teams combined for 19 home runs, nine of them by Vanderbilt. Colin Barczi hit three in Game 1, becoming the first Commodores player to ever have multiple three-home run games, and Mike Mancini hit three homers across the series. Brodie Johnston, Tommy Goodin and Korbin Reynolds each hit one home run.
During the series, Vanderbilt surpassed its total of 66 home runs from all of last season. Five players already have seven or more homers in 2026.
Vanderbilt somewhat struggled to score without the home run, though. In the doubleheader, the Commodores' only four runs scored were off four solo homers. Texas A&M came into the series with the lowest pitching walk rate in the SEC, and Vanderbilt combined to draw just five walks in the doubleheader after drawing 10 in the first game.
Texas A&M ranks first in the SEC in runs scored per game for a reason. But while Vanderbilt gave up just three walks in the first game, it issued 14 free passes in Game 2, and eight in the third. Wyatt Nadeau walked eight batters and hit one in his Game 2 start.
It has been a consistent issue for the Commodores, and it hasn't gotten better. They have given up 12 or more runs in Game 3 of all four SEC series this season. They also made three errors in the second game and two in the third — all throwing errors, and two of them by pitchers.
One positive was Tyler Baird, who pitched two scoreless innings in relief in Game 1, struck out two and walked no one. That follows up his outing against Tennessee, when he pitched five scoreless relief innings and indicated that he may be turning a corner.
Aiden Stillman was a much-hyped recruit, a top-50 prospect in the 2025 class, according to Perfect Game, but he missed the entire fall and the first half of the season with an injury.
Stillman finally got on the mound, serving as the opener for Game 3. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs with two walks and no strikeouts and showed a fastball up to 95 mph. Stillman will need to shake off the rust, but he gives Vanderbilt a second left-handed arm to work with as Miller Green and Matthew Shorey remain out.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball drops Texas A&M series, what we learned
Continue reading...
The Commodores (19-14, 6-6 SEC) got strong offensive performances but couldn't find enough on the mound to hold down the Aggies. Walks were especially a culprit, as Texas A&M managed to turn them into multi-run homers.
Vanderbilt is attempting to dig out of a hole created by a poor non-conference performance, but the problems the Commodores have had getting production out of a shorthanded pitching staff persisted, especially in the third game.
Here's what we learned:
Home runs galore
The teams combined for 19 home runs, nine of them by Vanderbilt. Colin Barczi hit three in Game 1, becoming the first Commodores player to ever have multiple three-home run games, and Mike Mancini hit three homers across the series. Brodie Johnston, Tommy Goodin and Korbin Reynolds each hit one home run.
During the series, Vanderbilt surpassed its total of 66 home runs from all of last season. Five players already have seven or more homers in 2026.
Vanderbilt somewhat struggled to score without the home run, though. In the doubleheader, the Commodores' only four runs scored were off four solo homers. Texas A&M came into the series with the lowest pitching walk rate in the SEC, and Vanderbilt combined to draw just five walks in the doubleheader after drawing 10 in the first game.
Pitching staff struggles with walks
Texas A&M ranks first in the SEC in runs scored per game for a reason. But while Vanderbilt gave up just three walks in the first game, it issued 14 free passes in Game 2, and eight in the third. Wyatt Nadeau walked eight batters and hit one in his Game 2 start.
It has been a consistent issue for the Commodores, and it hasn't gotten better. They have given up 12 or more runs in Game 3 of all four SEC series this season. They also made three errors in the second game and two in the third — all throwing errors, and two of them by pitchers.
One positive was Tyler Baird, who pitched two scoreless innings in relief in Game 1, struck out two and walked no one. That follows up his outing against Tennessee, when he pitched five scoreless relief innings and indicated that he may be turning a corner.
Aiden Stillman makes his first appearance
Aiden Stillman was a much-hyped recruit, a top-50 prospect in the 2025 class, according to Perfect Game, but he missed the entire fall and the first half of the season with an injury.
Stillman finally got on the mound, serving as the opener for Game 3. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs with two walks and no strikeouts and showed a fastball up to 95 mph. Stillman will need to shake off the rust, but he gives Vanderbilt a second left-handed arm to work with as Miller Green and Matthew Shorey remain out.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball drops Texas A&M series, what we learned
Continue reading...
