Vanderbilt Baseball's Offense Continues to Shine in Series Win Over LSU

Vanderbilt used a six-run fifth inning to overpower the Tigers in the second game of the series to clinch a series win.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:53am

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Vanderbilt pinch hitter Chris Maldonado hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to blow the game open as the Commodores defeated No. 13 LSU 11-3. The win was a continuation of Vanderbilt's offensive surge, having scored 10 or more runs in five of their last six games.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt's offense has been a key factor in the team's recent success, winning six of their last seven games. The Commodores' ability to produce runs in a variety of ways, including drawing walks, getting hits, and hitting home runs, has made them a formidable opponent as they begin conference play.

The details

Vanderbilt's big fifth inning started with the bases loaded and the Commodores already leading 2-1. They capitalized on an LSU fielding error to score their first run of the inning, then Braden Holcomb drew a bases-loaded walk. Mike Mancini followed with a deep fly ball to center that brought home another run, and then Maldonado hit a three-run home run to give Vanderbilt an 8-1 lead.

  • Maldonado's three-run home run came in the fifth inning.

The players

Chris Maldonado

A Vanderbilt pinch hitter who hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to blow the game open.

Ethan Plog

The LSU pitcher who gave up Maldonado's three-run home run.

Tim Corbin

The Vanderbilt head coach who praised Maldonado's performance and the team's offensive patience at the plate.

Rustan Rigdon

A Vanderbilt player who has been leading the way with patience at the plate and smart at-bats.

Brodie Johnston

A Vanderbilt player who has been leading the way with patience at the plate and smart at-bats.

Mike Mancini

A Vanderbilt player who hit a deep fly ball to center that brought home a run in the fifth inning.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a challenge for sure, but I took it head on and I embraced the challenge and I went to work. That's all it was, just making myself better as best as I can and put my head down and just working hard.”

— Chris Maldonado

“I'm really happy for him because he's gone through some stuff to get on the field, so he's just a quality kid. He does everything right. He's a leader in the program.”

— Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt Head Coach

“You know what? It's patience. Patience at the plate. We've done a good job of getting pitches to hit. They've done a really good job of negotiating the pitches. Last night, the first four innings kind of led to that. There's been drawn walks. I think there's more mature at-bats. So they're not trying to end the at-bat so quickly with a big hit.”

— Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt Head Coach

What’s next

Vanderbilt will look to complete the series sweep over LSU on Sunday.

The takeaway

Vanderbilt's offense has been a key factor in their recent success, as the team has shown patience and maturity at the plate, leading to an impressive scoring surge. This offensive production will be crucial as the Commodores navigate the challenging SEC conference schedule.