Local College Baseball Wrap-Up: Action from Nashville and Beyond

Photo / APSU Athletics

Nashville, TN – The local college baseball scene was buzzing with excitement on Wednesday as an array of thrilling matchups took center stage. Teams from across Nashville and its surroundings showcased their talents on the diamond.

Tennessee Volunteers Dominate Bellarmine

At Lindsey Nelson Stadium, the No. 13/20 Tennessee Volunteers put on a show, securing an 8-3 victory over Bellarmine. The game featured stellar pitching and a remarkable seven-run seventh inning that proved pivotal.

Sophomore Blaine Brown took the mound for the Vols, making his second start of the season after a challenging weekend series. His solid performance held the Knights scoreless on five hits until the late stages of the game. Tennessee struck early when Tyler Myatt crossed home plate on a Hunter High sacrifice fly in the second inning. After a quiet stretch, the game exploded in the seventh. Marin launched a two-run homer, followed by a three-run blast from Brown that effectively sealed the victory.

Jay Abernathy was a standout player, contributing three hits and a run scored. Tennessee's pitching relievers, including Cam Appenzeller and Nic Abraham, kept Bellarmine at bay throughout the evening, clinching their sixth win of the season.

The Vols are set to take their momentum into Arlington, Texas, where they'll face No. 1 UCLA and others in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.

Middle Tennessee Triumphs Over Tennessee Tech

In a showdown between area rivals, Middle Tennessee State continued its strong early-season form by dispatching Tennessee Tech with an 11-1 win, marking their third run-rule victory this season. The Blue Raiders' powerful offense came alive late, scoring eight runs in the final three innings to secure a decisive win.

Leading the charge was Dean O'Neill, who hit two home runs, his efforts amplifying MTSU's offensive onslaught. The Blue Raiders built on their early 3-1 lead with explosive attacks in the seventh inning, resulting in a five-run inning that featured a two-run homer by Brett Rogers. The offensive firepower and a solid pitching performance from Abel Albarran, who struck out three batters in 4.2 innings, made it a memorable night for MTSU.

They'll continue their homestand against Illinois State this weekend.

Belmont's Tough Fall to Lipscomb

In another neighborhood rivalry, Belmont had a rough outing against Lipscomb, falling 8-2 at Lipscomb's Ken Dugan Field. After getting on the board first with an RBI single from Jake Maddox, Belmont quickly lost steam as Lipscomb countered with a strong third inning. They scored four runs, including key hits that capitalized on Belmont's defensive errors.

Despite chances to respond, including a late rally sparked by Maddox's triple, the Bruins were unable to convert and fell victim to Lipscomb's aggressive offense. Lipscomb's Jackson Lee shone on the mound, striking out seven batters in five innings of relief, as the Bisons claimed their first home victory over Belmont since 2015.

Lipscomb is gearing up for a four-game series against Toledo this weekend.

Austin Peay Falls to No. 4 Mississippi State

Over in Starkville, Texas, Austin Peay had a challenging day against the nationally ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs, suffering a 16-3 defeat. After taking an early lead in the first

inning, the Governors struggled as Mississippi State!s offense unleashed a barrage of hits. The Bulldogs scored in bunches, capitalizing on numerous pitching changes and defensive miscues.

Ray Velazquez's early game walk and Ty Wisdom's sacrifice fly gave Austin Peay hope with a brief lead, but they could not maintain momentum as the Bulldogs consistently answered back, ending the game with a solid performance and sending Austin Peay home with lessons learned.

They will look to regroup in their upcoming series against Cincinnati.

Cumberland Edged by Milligan in Heartbreaker

In Elizabethton, Kentucky - Cumberland battled fiercely against Milligan but ultimately fell 7-6 in a dramatic finish. After building a solid lead, Cumberland's momentum shifted in the late innings as Milligan mounted a comeback with a four-run eighth. The Phoenix led until a solo home run from Haussin tied the game, but a final walk-off sacrifice fly from Milligan sealed Cumberland's fate.

Gaines Haussin!s two-RBI night and strong performances from multiple hitters highlighted Cumberland!s efforts, but they ultimately couldn't close the game out.

Looking ahead, Cumberland prepares to host No. 12 Missouri Baptist for an important doubleheader.

Vanderbilt Announces Dominance with Run-Rule Victory

Nashville shone brightly on Wednesday as the Vanderbilt Commodores added another convincing run-rule victory to their season, defeating Evansville 15-3 in just seven innings at Hawkins Field. This triumph marked Vanderbilt's sixth run-rule win out of the first nine games.

Braden Holcomb, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, was the star of the show, driving in six runs with a grand slam and a two-run homer. The Commodores surged in the second inning, scoring six runs, including Mike Mancini!s opposite-field grand slam, which significantly broke open the game.

Despite a brief rally from Evansville in the third, Vanderbilt quickly responded with a two-run double by Korbin Reynolds. Holcomb's two-run shot in the fourth and another grand slam in the sixth sealed the victory, putting the game into run-rule territory. Luke Guth struck out the final two batters in the seventh, capping off a strong performance.

The Commodores will carry a six-game win streak into the Live Like Lou Las Vegas College Classic this weekend, with high hopes against tough opponents like UC Irvine and Arizona.