Hoover, AL – May 22, 2025 – The Vanderbilt Commodores (40-16) defeated the Oklahoma Sooners (35-20) with a final score of 6-1 today at the Hoover Met in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament. The game, played under mostly clear skies with a temperature of 78 degrees, started at 8:01 pm and lasted 3 hours and 11 minutes. Attendance was listed as 10,135.
Vanderbilt took control of the game early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third inning. The scoring started with a single by shortstop Jonathan Vastine (#13), followed by a fielding error by Oklahoma first baseman Brayden Horton (#28) allowing designated hitter Mike Mancini (#5) to reach and Vastine to advance. Second baseman Rustan Rigdon (#19) grounded out to shortstop, scoring Vastine. Center fielder RJ Austin (#42) then doubled to left field, driving in two runs, followed by first baseman Riley Nelson (#32) doubling to right field to score Austin. Vanderbilt added single runs in the fourth and seventh innings. In the fourth, Austin (#42) singled to shortstop, scoring Vastine (#13) who reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced on an error. In the seventh, left fielder Braden Holcomb (#26) doubled to left field, scoring Nelson (#32). Oklahoma’s lone run came in the top of the fourth when right fielder Sam Christiansen (#40), who was hit by a pitch, scored on a groundout by center fielder Jason Walk (#1).
Vanderbilt’s pitching staff was outstanding, combining for 17 strikeouts. Starter JD Thompson (#22) earned the win (5-5), pitching 5.0 innings, allowing only two hits and one earned run while striking out 11. Thompson emphasized his approach, stating, “just get in the zone, don’t give them free bases, set the tone early, just beating them early with fastball. The curveball was working well for me”. He added, “I’m not scared to pitch in traffic. I know how to take care of it and I know I’ve got a great defense behind me”. Pitchers Luke Guth (#33), Levi Huesman (#36), and Sawyer Hawks (#88) provided scoreless relief.
Oklahoma starter Cade Crossland (#23) took the loss (4-5). Oklahoma Coach Skip Johnson lamented his team’s performance, saying, “We didn’t play defense and when we don’t play defense and don’t give up — get hits, it gets pretty ugly. So basically we beat ourselves I thought as much as anything”. He highlighted that Vanderbilt’s pitching “beared down with men on base and got big strikeouts in big moments”. Oklahoma catcher Easton Carmichael (#2) acknowledged, “They’re a good pitching team and they got the better hand tonight”. Carmichael felt the SEC season has prepared them for regional play by focusing on “playing against the ball” rather than the atmosphere. Coach Johnson echoed this, saying the league prepares them by seeing strong arms and experiencing the atmosphere.
Vanderbilt Coach Tim Corbin praised his team’s growth, noting the offense has developed throughout the season. RJ Austin (#42), who was a key offensive catalyst with his hits and RBIs, said his approach was “Just go up there and put a good swing on the ball, look for a good pitch… free mind and be myself and go out there and have fun”. Coach Corbin added, “It’s fun to coach winning baseball… They’ve just grown as the season has gone on”.
Oklahoma finished the game with just two hits and committed three errors, while Vanderbilt tallied eight hits and zero errors.
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