Jeren Kendall was clutch city yesterday for the Commodores
The Dores scored three runs in the top of the eighth on Jeren Kendall’s sixth home run of the season, a three run shot, after Tyler Campbell and Ro Coleman, who was scratched from the starting lineup due to an illness, both singled. Jeren hit a two out shot into the right field seats and Ben Bowden closed the deal on the mound as VU claimed the third game of the three game series over LSU, 9-7. Bryan Reynolds also hit his eighth home run. Patrick Raby earned the victory out of the bullpen to move to 5-0, and Bowden recorded his sixth save of the season.
It was a huge day at the plate for some of our guys. Jeren was four for five hitting out of the leadoff spot with four Ribeyes. Bryan was two for three with three RBIs. Tyler Campbell, who started at second base in place of Ethan Paul, who was our designated hitter, was three for four with three Ribeyes. He also made an outstanding diving catch on a line drive headed for right center. Ethan was two for five and actually came into the game at second in the eighth and made a couple of nice plays at second.
The No.2 Dores moved to 25-7 on the season and 7-5 in the SEC East. No. 15 LSU dropped to 21-10 and 6-6 in the SEC West. South Carolina won to move to 9-2, Florida lost to Mississippi State to drop to 8-3, and Kentucky beat Alabama to move to 8-3. So we are in fourth place right now in the East.
We play Middle Tennessee State, which is 14-17, at home Tuesday at 6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET on SEC Network+. We have a huge weekend series at home with Kentucky next weekend from Friday, 4-15-Sunday, 4-17. Friday’s game is at 6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET on SEC Network+_, Saturday’s game is at 2 PM CT/3 PM ET on SEC Network+, and Sunday’s game at 1 PM CT/2 PM ET does not look televised as of right now. That could change. Kentucky is 22-8 overall and not ranked presently, but could be with the a victory today at Alabama, when the rankings come out tomorrow.
No.5 Women’s tennis plays at No. 27 Arkansas today. The match starts at Noon CT. The girls have really been playing well as we have won our last seven SEC matches. We are now 8-2 in conference and 15-4 overall. Cal is No.1, UNC is No.2, Ohio State is No.3 and Georgia is No.4 in the ITA rankings. We beat Georgia at home, 4-3, on March 26th. Arkansas today, Auburn next Friday, 4-15, Alabama next Sunday, 4-17, and then the SEC Tournament in Baton Rouge on April 20th. So a lot of great stuff coming up for the girls.
Brandt is at +1, four shots back of Jordan Spieth at the Masters, and tied for eighth. Brandt tees off today at 1:05 PM CT/2:05 PM ET on CBS. The conditions won’t be as incredibly windy and hard as they have been. Today's winds look like 6-8 MPH, so much better scoring conditions. Brandt will probably need to shoot something like a 66 to win. Brandt plays with Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark again.
The No.8 Men's golf team plays in the SEC Tournament next weekend at Sea Island, Georgia. Would love to win that and move on to the Regionals with great momentum.
Watched Sonny’s game from Wednesday, last night. He threw 97 pitches in seven innings of work, giving up only three hits, one earned, with four walks and five K’s. He threw 58 strikes and 39 balls. His fastball was clocking at 93, and his slider and curve were working well. He has so much movement on his pitches and Sonny battles like no other pitcher in the majors beside David. He's fun to watch like David is.
David Price on the hill tomorrow for the BoSox as they host the Orioles at 1:05 PM CT/2:05 PM ET. David faces Orioles right hander Yovani Gallardo, who is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Gallardo's first outing against Minnesota, he went five, gave up two hits, one run, with three walks and four K’s. He got the 4-2 victory. David is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, after his 6-2 victory over Cleveland last Tuesday. He walked two and struck out 10. Not sure if Pedro will be the O’s designated hitter as he hits left-handed and David is as good lefty as you’ll find in the game. The O’s were rained out last night, but play the Rays today. The O’s are 4-0. The Rays are throwing right hander Jake Odorizzi, so maybe Pedro will start for the O’s. Hopefully, Curt Casali will start for the Rays. The BoSox are 3-1 and are at the Blue Jays today. The AL East is shaping up into a war early in the season.
Sonny on the hill tomorrow night for the A’s against the Angels. The A’s are 3-3, and Sonny is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA. The A’s are playing pretty good ball so far.