This weekend’s series between Tennessee and Vanderbilt pits the No. 1 team in the country against the No. 9 team. Two highly-ranked teams means the quality of play for the games should be excellent, but that surprisingly wasn’t at all the case for the Commodores.
Vandy lost two fly balls in the lights during the same inning and looked like a tee-ball team.
Here is the first lost fly ball, which came during a 2-1 game in the fifth.
Lost it in the lights! Seth will take it for his team-leading 11th double.
Beck follows with a two-run double and we lead 4-1!
📺 https://t.co/CZC2pSVwp4#GBO // #OTH // #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/oqQgS0vrFD
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) April 2, 2022
The misplayed ball gave Tennessee runners on second and third with one out instead of a runner on first with two outs. The next batter was Jordan Beck, who doubled to knock in both runners and make it 4-1.
Two batters later, Vandy right fielder Spencer Jones lost a fly ball in the lights, allowing Trey Lipscomb to get an RBI triple.
Those pesky lights again. Tough break for the Vandy Boys.
That goes down as an RBI triple for Trey!
5-1 Vols
📺 https://t.co/CZC2pSVwp4#GBO // #OTH // #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/oyyZbhChkg
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) April 2, 2022
Vandy’s outfielders obviously didn’t become starters on a top team in the country by not knowing how to track and catch fly balls. So what is the deal? Vandy apparently installed new lights at Hawkins Field for the weekend series, and it’s obvious those caused major problems.
That was a big error by Vandy not testing out the lights beforehand. It cost them at least a run in the 6-2 loss, if not more.
