Johnstone’s Walk-Off Lifts Vanderbilt Past No. 21 Tennessee, 3-2, in 10 Innings

Photo / Vanderbilt Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a cold, tightly contested outing at Hawkins Field Friday night, Vanderbilt edged No. 21 Tennessee 3-2 in 10 innings when Commodores freshman Logan Johnstone delivered a two-out, walk-off RBI single.

Vanderbilt (15-12, 3-4 SEC) outhit Tennessee (18-8, 3-4 SEC) 10-5 and used timely contact and strong relief work to complete the series opening win in front of a packed local crowd. Johnstone, who already had a walk-off home run earlier this month, sent an 0-1 pitch through the left side in the bottom of the 10th, bringing pinch-runner Cade Sears home from second and ending the contest.

The Commodores grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third when Brodie Johnston delivered an RBI single. Korbin Reynolds extended the advantage with a solo homer in the fifth — his third of the season — to make it 2-0. Vanderbilt’s offense was paced by Johnston, who collected four hits, while Johnstone and Ryker Waite finished with two hits apiece.

Tennessee chipped away behind strong pitching but struggled to cash in on scoring chances. Brandon Arvidson, making his first career SEC start for the Vols, struck out seven and surrendered two runs on four hits and two walks across five innings. Freshman reliever Tegan Kuhns followed with 4.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on five hits while fanning six; he was charged with the loss and fell to 1-3 on the season. The Vols managed only five hits, with Levi Clark the lone multi-hit player (2-for-4), his second-inning single in the eighth tying the game at 2-2.

Vanderbilt starter Connor Fennell worked 7.1 strong innings, fanning nine while yielding two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk. The Commodores turned to reliever Brennan Seiber in the late innings; Seiber struck out the side to end Tennessee’s threat in the top of the 10th and then held the Vols scoreless in the remainder of his outing to earn the win after tossing 2.2 shutout frames.

The game featured several late-game tensions: Tennessee threatened in the top of the 10th with runners on second and third and two outs, but Seiber struck out Blake Grimmer to end the inning. In the home half, Colin Barczi was hit by a pitch and went to first; Sears ran for him and advanced to second on Johnstone’s single, setting up the decisive play.

Both programs — each with strong local followings — leave Hawkins Field with takeaways from a pitchers’ duel that unfolded into a late offensive flourish for Vanderbilt. The teams meet again Saturday afternoon with Vanderbilt aiming to clinch the series and Tennessee looking to even the set. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.