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Body language says it all: Vandy beats Vols, 9-2
Vanderbilt’s Shea Robin is tagged out by Tennessee first baseman Jeff Lockwood in the third inning Saturday of their SEC game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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You didn't need a scoreboard to get a read on which team won Saturday's baseball game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
It was all right there in the body language.
Vanderbilt players bounced their way off the field after thumping Tennessee 9-2. Vols players limped, heads down and shoulders slumped.
"We worked so hard and did so well early, but now it's starting to get a little frustrating," UT senior second baseman Andy Simunic said. "Nothing seems to be going our way."
The Commodores clinched a crucial SEC series victory with the same formula that worked so well in an 8-5 victory on Friday.
They jumped out to a big lead and Tennessee (25-22, 11-12 SEC) wasn't able to put up much of fight this time.
UT redshirt freshman pitcher Bryan Morgado had his toughest outing as a Vol, giving up seven runs on nine hits in four innings.
"It just happens," Morgado said. "I felt like I had command, but I left a few balls up and I paid for it.
"They hit the ball very well and all you can do is tip your hat to them and say good job. I just didn't have it today."
The No. 13 Commodores (33-13, 13-9) pounced on Morgado for four runs in the first inning and solo runs in the second, third and fourth to take a 7-0 lead.
"They jumped out on us pretty early for the second day in a row," Simunic said after going 2-for-4. "Not to make excuses, but that's pretty hard to fight back from."
Morgado started the game in the hole with a walk, a hit batter and a single by Pedro Alvarez to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Alex Feinberg put Vandy on the board. Shea Robin then had a two-run double and Andrew Giobbi a bloop RBI single to left.
UT loaded the bases in the first and came up empty.
"That's really important, especially when you're on the road to put some runs up there early," Vandy coach Tim Corbin said. "Getting out of that first inning, once that happened we had some pretty good holds the rest of the way. From a momentum standpoint, that's huge."
The Vols, who were 1-for-5 with no RBIs with runners in scoring position, never sniffed much momentum against Commodores' starter Caleb Cotham.
Tennessee's only runs came in the eighth inning when Cotham walked Kentrail Davis with the bases loaded and Jarred Frazier had a sacrifice fly.
Vandy has won five of the past six series against Tennessee in what's becoming a lopsided rivalry.
"You just have to flush the last two and come out with a lot of energy and passion (in the finale at 2 p.m. today)," Simunic said.
The loss guaranteed UT's first SEC series loss at home. The Vols are 3-9 in their past 12 games and 6-12 since taking the first two games against Florida at home in April.
Notebook: UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl couldn't work his motivational magic after throwing out the first pitch. He was joined on the field by several current Vols - J.P. Prince, Wayne Chism, Ryan Childress, Cameron Tatum, Steven Pearl and Tanner Wild. . . . Former Webb School standout Jordan Wormsley, son of Webb coach Clark Wormsley, got some playing time in left field and had a one-out single up the middle in the eighth.
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Posted by pdhuff on May 4, 2008 at 5:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Morgado - "It just happens"!
Yep.
Posted by VolFan1972 on May 4, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems to me that the team is flat, very very flat. Of course if your coach comes in the dugout and says " I hate this f... team and can't wait for this f... season to be over" it's hard to stay motivated. This was said in Starkville in front of all players. Raleigh needs to take a class on motivation instead of demoralizing his players. If my coach told me constantly that I'm not good enough to be on this team and that I won't be asked back next year how motivated could a person be.
Posted by w on May 4, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea, you don't get a sense of great comaraderie with these guys...from the head coach down.
Posted by Gustoly on May 4, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"It just happens"..............
Yea and so does other stuff. Like the stuff you are playing like. Get swept by East Tennis-Shoe. NEVER should happen in a million years.
The Vols haven't beat a Tennessee team yet this year.
Posted by volchamp on May 4, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
how many of you have actually played this game for an extended period of time??
UT is a VERY young team with a brand new coach, there are only 3 seniors on this team this year. It takes time to adapt to Raleigh's coaching and the players have to buy in to what he is saying.
VOLFAN- I highly doubt Raleigh said that in front of his team, and if he did I bet he was talking about MSU, not his own team
Posted by VolFan1972 on May 4, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Volchamp,
Yes he did say those words to the team and he was talking to the TN Vols not to MSU. Maybe you should talk to the players and to their parents. I think you would get an ear full. He is a disgrace. He also likes to call the players MF... What do you think about a coach??? that talks to players like that? Doesn't seem like he has much on the ball. He is destroying this team. Check the stats since Arkansas. This man went off on the team there and he has gotten worse every weekend since. By the way there are 4 seniors on the team and yes I have played this game for a LONG period of time.
Posted by topgun on May 5, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
concur with Volfan1972, this is a demoralized team and I'll bet they cannot wait until the season is over. Flat, Flat, Flat! Saturday, I had justed turned on the TV, sat down withm my coke and chips, when the first vandy player was walked, the next was hit by a pitched ball, etc., etc., and before I was settled in--the score was 4 to zip! Trying to avoid any more pain, I turned the TV off. Could not believe this was a UT VOL team--young players or not.
Posted by volchamp on May 5, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
VolFan,
Unfortunately, I had no idea and do not have an opportunity to talk to players or their families, if this truly is the case then you are right and I was wrong to question it. I just could not see this happening but who knows.
Still trying to stay positive about the youth of the team and Raleigh's now questionable coaching style
Posted by VolBallFan on May 11, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
VolFan, your account is sad but true.
Raleigh's personal attacks on players and constant berating have taken a tole on this team. I've been shocked and amazed at things I've heard coming from the dugout and reports from players. Raleigh has sabotaged his own season with his negativity and hateful, juvenile behavior. Calling players "sorry MFers" and a "bunch of pu**ies" is no way to get the best out of a team.
Raleigh is a disgrace to the uniform he puts on and has no one to blame but himself. He's gotten his wish for the season to be over by marshaling an astounding losing streak and destroying any chances of an SEC tournament bid. Let's just hope it's his last season ever.
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