Win to play another day: Vanderbilt baseball veterans come through vs. New Mexico State
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Vanderbilt's veterans made sure Saturday's game wasn't their last.
In a 21-1 drubbing of New Mexico State in the Corvallis Regional elimination game, the Commodores' junior and senior position players tallied 16 RBIs, including seven from right fielder Spencer Jones, four for first baseman Dominic Keegan, three from third baseman Parker Noland and two from second baseman Tate Kolwyck. On top of that, right-hander Chris McElvain threw seven innings and gave up one run, striking out 11.
"You've just got to play baseball, it's just a game," Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said. "And they know that – they know, no, you just have to play. You can't play the circumstances, you got to play the game itself. And that's what older guys do."
Jones' seven RBIs were the highest for a Commodore in a game this season. He had a three-run home run, two doubles and a single.
The game got so out of hand by the ninth inning that several starters were lifted, with outfielders TJ McKenzie and Matthew Polk and catcher Alan Espinal getting at-bats in the blowout.
"It means a lot for these people to get experience and stuff moving forward, because I was one of those guys that needed, hadn't seen it before and got experience later in the season (in 2021)," Jones said. "That meant a lot."
McElvain, who hadn't won a start or given up fewer than four runs in an outing since April, got back on track against the Aggies.
"(The early lead) helps the pitching staff, and it's a group effort," McElvain said. "And when the pitching staff is able to help the hitters and hitters are able to help the pitching staff ... you don't have to sit there and worry about making perfect pitches and you never should anyways. The ability to be able to just go out there and just go as hard as you can, it makes it a lot easier."
Vanderbilt used just two pitchers, as left-hander Brett Hansen took the final two innings in relief of McElvain. The Commodores also used just two pitchers in Friday's loss to San Diego, leaving most of the bullpen intact. That could be big later as Vanderbilt will need to win three games in two days to advance out of the regional.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball veterans lead blowout of New Mexico State
