After an extremely successful regular season, our No.2 Vanderbilt Commodores begin the postseason and the SEC Tournament today at 4:30 PM CT versus the 33-23 Auburn Tigers, a 5-3 victor yesterday over the Tennessee Vols.
We finished the season at 45-10 and 23-7 in the conference and won the SEC. We won 18 of our last 19 games. JJ Bleday was named SEC player of the year after his phenomenal season in which he led the country with 25 home runs. Austin Martin, who hit .432 this season, leading the conference and second nationally, was a first team All-SEC selection also, as were catcher Philip Clarke and closer Tyler Brown, who led the SEC with 13 saves.
Ethan Paul was selected as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which recognizes the nation’s top shortstop. Philip was selected as a semifinalist for the Buster Posey Award, awarded to the nation’s top catcher. Austin and Julian Infante were selected on the All-SEC defensive team and Kumar Rocker was selected on the All-SEC freshmen team.
So the accolades have poured in. Still, we have a lot of work ahead of us in our pursuit for a trip to Omaha and a chance to win it all.
It starts today with Drake Fellows on the mound. Drake is 9-0 with a 4+ ERA right now, so he’s had some trouble recently giving up runs, but some of it has been not as solid defense behind him. Drake’s a warrior, he’ll be ready. Auburn has not yet announced their pitcher today.
Awesome season, but plenty of work left starting today.
The women’s golf team finished 24th at the NCAA Championships. Still had a super season and there is a lot of young talent returning.
Men’s Golf tees it up on Friday at the NCAA Championships at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Will keep you up to date on the men.
Big day for the team as we start our postseason journey. Will keep you abreast on all the action in the upcoming days.