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The VandyBoys return to Hawkins Field this weekend for a three-game series against the LSU Tigers. The matchup marks SEC opening weekend, the beginning of what many consider the true start of the season as conference play gets underway. Here is your preview, and a bookmark to reference, as you watch Corbin’s club this weekend.

Team	Record	RPI	Strength of Schedule
Vanderbilt	11–7	221	257
#13 LSU	13-5	128	197

Friday (3/13)

• TV: ESPN+
• Radio: 102.5 The Game
• Time: 6:00 pm
• Weather: 64°, Sunny
• Location: Hawkins Field
• Pitching Matchup: Connor Fennell vs. Casan Evans
• Opponent Pitcher Profile: Casan Evans
  • 📌 Baseball-Reference:
    • https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=evans-00cas
  • Throws: R
  • Class: So.
  • Starts: 4
  • Record: 1–0
  • ERA: 4.66
  • WHIP: 1.09
  • Innings: 19.1
  • Strikeouts: 30
  • Walks: 7
  • Snapshot:
    • Evans has quickly become an important arm for LSU Tigers baseball after a strong freshman season in 2025. As a freshman he primarily worked out of the bullpen, posting a 2.05 ERA across 52.2 innings while striking out 71 batters and collecting seven saves. His ability to miss bats immediately stood out, as he averaged over 12 strikeouts per nine innings while holding opponents to a .228 average.
    • In 2026, LSU has transitioned Evans into a starting role. Through four starts he owns a 4.66 ERA over 19.1 innings with 30 strikeouts, giving him an elite 14.0 K/9. Don’t let the high ERA fool you, Evans is a real Friday night arm, owning a 2.45 FIP (fielding independent pitching), lower than his freshman mark. Opponents are hitting just .189 against him, showing that his swing-and-miss stuff has continued to play in longer outings.
    • The key question for Evans as a starter will be maintaining efficiency deeper into games. His strikeout ability is clearly a weapon, but with LSU stretching him into a rotation role this season, pitch counts and run prevention over multiple trips through the order will be something to watch.

Saturday (3/14)

• TV: SECN
• Radio: 102.5 The Game
• Time: 7:00 pm
• Weather: 70°, Sunny
• Location: Hawkins Field
• Pitching Matchup: Wyatt Nadeau vs. Cooper Moore
• Opponent Pitcher Profile: Cooper Moore
  • 📌 Baseball-Reference:
    • https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=moore-00coo
  • Throws: R
  • Class: Jr.
  • Starts: 4
  • Record: 3–1
  • ERA: 2.25
  • WHIP: 1.00
  • Innings: 24.0
  • Strikeouts: 31
  • Walks: 5
  • Snapshot:
    • Moore joined LSU this season after spending the first two years of his career at Kansas. At Kansas he developed from a bullpen arm in 2024 into a full-time starter in 2025, logging 88.2 innings with a 3.96 ERA and 85 strikeouts while making 14 starts.
    • Since transferring to LSU in 2026, Moore has been one of the Tigers’ most effective starters early in the season. Through four starts he owns a 2.25 ERA over 24 innings with 31 strikeouts, good for an 11.6 K/9, while limiting opponents to a .213 batting average. His command has also been strong, issuing just five walks so far.
    • Moore’s experience as a high-volume starter at Kansas appears to have translated well into LSU’s rotation. If the early results hold, he gives the Tigers a steady arm capable of missing bats while working deeper into games than some of their younger power arms.

Sunday (3/15)

• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: 102.5 The Game
• Time: 3:00 pm
• Weather: 72°, Chance of Rain
• Location: Hawkins Field
• Pitching Matchup: Nate Taylor vs. William Schmidt
• Opponent Pitcher Profile: William Schmidt
  • 📌 Baseball-Reference:
    • https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=schmid-00wil
  • Throws: R
  • Class: So.
  • Starts: 4
  • Record: 3–1
  • ERA: 2.45
  • WHIP: 0.82
  • Innings: 22.0
  • Strikeouts: 33
  • Walks: 4
  • Snapshot:
    • Schmidt has quickly developed into one of the most electric arms for LSU after arriving with high expectations. As a freshman in 2025, he appeared in 17 games with six starts, posting a 4.73 ERA across 32.1 innings while striking out 41 batters. While the results were inconsistent at times, the strikeout numbers highlighted his ability to miss bats.
    • In 2026, Schmidt has taken a significant step forward in LSU’s rotation. Through four starts he owns a 2.45 ERA over 22 innings with 33 strikeouts, good for a 13.5 K/9, while opponents are hitting just .177 against him.
    • The biggest improvement has been command. After walking 22 batters in 32.1 innings last season, Schmidt has issued just four walks so far in 2026. With his swing-and-miss stuff now paired with better control, he has emerged as one of LSU’s most dangerous early-season starters.

Keys to the Series:

1. Limiting Free Passes
Vanderbilt pitchers have shown the ability to miss bats this season, but walks have occasionally created trouble. Against a talented LSU lineup that features several hitters with strong on-base numbers, limiting walks and hit-by-pitches will be critical to avoiding big innings.

2. Winning the Power Battle
Both teams feature several hitters capable of changing a game with one swing. Vanderbilt’s Braden Holcomb and Brodie Johnston lead a lineup that has produced plenty of home run power, while LSU’s Jake Brown has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the country early this season. Whichever team controls the long ball could have the edge.

3. Bullpen Effectiveness
With both teams capable of putting pressure on opposing pitching staffs, relief pitching could play a major role in this series. Vanderbilt has shown good depth out of the bullpen (though inconsistent), and strong outings from relievers could help the Commodores navigate the middle and late innings against a dangerous LSU lineup.

VandyBoys Season Overview

Vanderbilt enters the weekend at 11–7 overall as the Commodores prepare to open SEC play. The VandyBoys opened the year at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, where they went 1–2, defeating Texas Tech but falling to TCU and Oklahoma State.

Back in Nashville, Vanderbilt built momentum with a strong homestand. The Commodores swept Marist and picked up midweek victories over Eastern Michigan and Evansville, with the offense erupting with multiple double-digit run games during a five-game winning streak.

Vanderbilt then traveled to Las Vegas for the Live Like Lou Classic, where they faced another difficult slate and dropped games to UC Irvine, Arizona, and Oregon. The Commodores returned home but were narrowly defeated by Central Arkansas before bouncing back with a 4–1 win over Troy at Hawkins Field.

Since then, Vanderbilt has begun to regain momentum. The Commodores took two of three from North Dakota State before adding a 14–6 midweek victory over Indiana State, continuing a trend of strong offensive production.

The start to the season has not been without adversity. Vanderbilt has dealt with several pitching injuries, and the loss of starting catcher Colin Barczi has also been difficult to overcome early in the year. The Commodores will also be without Austin Nye for the foreseeable future, who will not pitch this weekend due to injury. Additionally, Vanderbilt has struggled against Power Conference competition so far, something they will look to improve as SEC play begins.

Despite those challenges, Vanderbilt has shown explosive offensive potential and solid (but inconsistent) pitching depth, giving the VandyBoys a solid foundation as they enter the most demanding portion of their schedule.

VandyBoys Players to Watch

Brodie Johnston (3B)
Johnston has been one of the most dangerous hitters in Vanderbilt’s lineup early this season, hitting .382 with 7 home runs and a 1.257 OPS, giving the Commodores a major power threat in the middle of the order.

Braden Holcomb (CF)
Holcomb leads the team with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs while hitting .353 with a 1.278 OPS, making him Vanderbilt’s most consistent run producer so far this season.

Chris Maldonado (1B)
Maldonado has provided power in the middle of the lineup, hitting .300 with a .650 slugging percentage and three home runs, giving Vanderbilt another bat capable of driving in runs. Chris has a chance to solidify himself as the everyday first baseman with a good weekend.

LSU Season Overview

LSU enters the weekend with a 13–5 record after a strong but somewhat uneven start to the 2026 season. The Tigers opened the year by sweeping Milwaukee at home before adding additional wins over Kent State and Nicholls in Baton Rouge.

LSU then traveled to Jacksonville for a neutral-site weekend and continued its strong start, defeating Indiana, Notre Dame, and UCF to move to 8–0 on the season. The Tigers’ first loss came in a 7–6 midweek defeat to McNeese, but they responded with wins over Dartmouth and Northeastern in the following weekend series.

However, LSU later dropped the second game of that series against Northeastern, which started a stretch of more inconsistent results. The Tigers also fell on the road to Louisiana before returning home and losing two of three to Sacramento State at Alex Box Stadium.

LSU did rebound with an 8–4 midweek win over Creighton in its most recent outing. Overall, the Tigers have shown the offensive firepower expected from the program, scoring 10 or more runs seven times, while the pitching staff has demonstrated strong strikeout ability but occasional inconsistency early in the season.

LSU Players to Watch

Jake Brown (RF)
Brown has been the centerpiece of LSU’s offense early in the season, hitting .413 with 9 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a 1.336 OPS.

Zach Yorke (1B)
Yorke has been a key on-base presence for the Tigers, posting a .463 OBP with four home runs while consistently working deep counts. This is definitely a guy to watch, you can’t miss him.

William Schmidt (RHP)
Schmidt has been one of LSU’s most effective arms so far, recording a 2.45 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 22 innings, giving the Tigers a major swing-and-miss option in the rotation. Schmidt lines up with VandyBoys freshman Wyatt Nadeau, who is throwing in the place of the injured Austin Nye, a tough matchup for Vandy.

By The Numbers:

VandyBoys

Team Hitting Stats:

Stat	Vanderbilt	Opponents
AVG	.318	.217
GP-GS	18	18
AB	575	526
R	155	72
H	183	114
2B	36	15
3B	4	3
HR	44	14
RBI	148	65
TB	359	177
SLG%	.624	.337
BB	107	72
HP	17	26
SO	146	180
GDP	8	19
OB%	.433	.338
SF	3	8
SH	10	4
SB-ATT	20-25	8-14
PO	439	416
A	150	130
E	13	14
FLD%	.978	.975

Team Pitching Stats:

Stat	Vanderbilt	Opponents
ERA	3.94	9.35
W-L	11–7	7–11
APP	18	18
GS	18	18
CG	0	0
SHO	1/1	0/0
SV	2	3
IP	146.1	138.2
H	114	183
R	72	155
ER	64	144
BB	72	107
SO	180	146
2B	15	36
3B	3	4
HR	14	44
B/AVG	.217	.318
WP	14	22
HP	26	17
BK	4	3
SFA	8	3
SHA	4	10

Individual Hitting Stats:

Player	POS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	GP	HR	RBI	SB
Ryker Waite	SS	.396	.560	.642	1.202	18	2	14	5
Brodie Johnston	3B	.382	.463	.794	1.257	17	7	16	0
Braden Holcomb	CF	.353	.425	.853	1.278	18	10	31	1
Logan Johnstone	RF	.333	.487	.633	1.121	17	5	13	3
Rustan Rigdon	2B	.271	.364	.417	.780	14	1	5	3
Will Hampton	LF	.667	.750	.667	1.417	3	0	0	0
Aukai Kea	C	.667	.667	2.667	3.333	3	2	5	0
Korbin Reynolds	C	.364	.467	.636	1.103	12	2	10	1
Mack Whitcomb	DH	.324	.490	.541	1.031	13	1	6	0
Mike Mancini	LF	.311	.418	.622	1.040	13	4	14	4
Chris Maldonado	1B	.300	.378	.650	1.028	13	3	10	0
Colin Barczi	C	.286	.348	.714	1.062	5	3	5	0
Max Jensen	1B	.250	.464	.500	.964	9	1	2	0
Tommy Goodin	DH	.219	.306	.531	.837	12	3	13	0
Collin Brightwell	CF	.182	.250	.182	.432	4	0	2	1
Carter Johnstone	2B	.156	.263	.188	.451	10	0	2	1
Cade Sears	RF	.000	.000	.000	.000	1	0	0	1

Individual Pitching Stats:

Pitcher	ERA	APP	GS	IP	H	ER	BB	K	Opp BA
Connor Fennell	3.80	4	4	21.1	16	9	3	30	.195
Nate Taylor	4.91	4	4	18.1	16	10	12	24	.242
Adria Casoliba	0.00	3	0	5.1	1	0	3	4	.067
Wyatt Nadeau	0.00	4	1	11.0	6	0	6	15	.158
Nate Schlote	0.00	3	0	3.0	0	0	2	5	.000
Austin Nye	0.00	3	3	10.0	6	0	2	13	.167
Luke Guth	1.08	7	0	8.1	9	1	2	11	.281
Jakob Schulz	1.29	6	0	7.0	3	1	3	12	.130
Tristan Bristow	2.25	5	0	4.0	5	1	0	6	.313
Brennan Seiber	3.48	5	0	10.1	11	4	7	7	.297
Connor Hamilton	4.70	5	2	7.2	4	4	6	7	.160
Nate Teague	5.40	2	0	1.2	0	1	2	2	.000
Hudson Barton	5.40	3	0	1.2	3	1	2	3	.333
Tyler Baird	5.40	5	2	11.2	11	7	8	13	.256
Jacob Faulkner	7.36	5	0	7.1	4	6	5	7	.167
Alex Kranzler	9.49	6	2	12.1	12	13	7	15	.273
England Bryan	10.12	3	0	5.1	7	6	2	6	.304

LSU

Team Hitting Stats:

Stat	LSU	Opponents
AVG	.291	.209
GP-GS	18	18
AB	591	570
R	154	83
H	172	119
2B	34	21
3B	3	1
HR	29	10
RBI	135	75
TB	299	172
SLG%	.506	.302
BB	107	67
HP	30	26
SO	123	224
GDP	9	3
OB%	.420	.317
SF	4	5
SH	7	2
SB-ATT	12-15	9-14
PO	459	431
A	116	134
E	21	30
FLD%	.965	.950

Team Pitching Stats:

Stat	LSU	Opponents
ERA	4.29	8.14
W-L	13–5	5–13
APP	18	18
GS	18	18
CG	0	0
SHO	2/2	0/0
SV	6	5
IP	153.0	143.2
H	119	172
R	83	154
ER	73	130
BB	67	107
SO	224	123
2B	21	34
3B	1	3
HR	10	29
B/AVG	.209	.291
WP	23	29
HP	26	30
BK	0	3
SFA	5	7
SHA	2	4

Individual Hitting Stats:

Player	POS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	GP	HR	RBI	SB
Jake Brown	RF	.413	.482	.853	1.336	18	9	28	5
Derek Curiel	CF	.329	.412	.443	.855	18	1	14	2
Zach Yorke	1B	.288	.463	.525	.989	18	4	10	0
Mason Braun	DH	.268	.400	.366	.766	17	1	7	0
Cade Arrambide	C	.259	.375	.537	.912	16	4	10	0
Trent Caraway	3B	.255	.328	.451	.779	17	2	15	0
Steven Milam	SS	.250	.429	.391	.819	18	1	12	2
Seth Dardar	2B	.239	.446	.478	.924	18	2	12	0
Edward Yamin IV	C	.500	.625	1.000	1.625	5	1	2	0
William Patrick	LF	.500	.667	.500	1.167	2	0	0	1
Ethan Clauss	SS	.500	.500	1.500	2.000	2	0	0	0
John Pearson	DH	.333	.444	.733	1.178	10	2	4	0
Brayden Simpson	LF	.318	.464	.409	.873	12	0	5	0
Chris Stanfield	LF	.250	.333	.375	.708	3	0	0	0
Jack Ruckert	2B	.250	.400	.333	.733	9	0	1	0
Tanner Reaves	LF	.240	.387	.280	.667	11	0	4	2
Omar Serna Jr.	C	.222	.364	.370	.734	12	1	9	0
Daniel Harden	DH	.167	.375	.417	.792	8	1	2	0

Individual Pitching Stats:

Pitcher	ERA	APP	GS	IP	H	ER	BB	K	Opp BA
Cooper Moore	2.25	4	4	24.0	19	6	5	31	.213
William Schmidt	2.45	4	4	22.0	14	6	4	33	.177
Casan Evans	4.66	4	4	19.1	14	10	7	30	.189
Mavrick Rizy	1.64	8	0	11.0	4	2	7	14	.111
Zion Theophilus	2.70	3	0	3.1	2	1	3	4	.167
Gavin Guidry	2.70	6	1	13.1	7	4	4	20	.152
Deven Sheerin	3.00	7	0	9.0	2	3	5	17	.071
Ethan Plog	3.68	6	0	7.1	4	3	5	9	.167
Reagan Ricken	4.05	4	1	6.2	6	3	3	7	.231
Santi Garcia	5.06	6	0	5.1	4	3	3	10	.211
Grant Fontenot	5.40	5	0	3.1	9	2	2	4	.500
Jaden Noot	6.35	5	1	5.2	4	4	3	7	.200
Danny Lachenmayer	6.75	3	0	1.1	0	1	2	1	.000
Cooper Williams	7.11	6	1	6.1	7	5	2	9	.259
Dax Dathe	8.10	6	0	3.1	2	3	1	7	.167
Marcos Paz	11.12	4	1	5.2	7	7	7	9	.304
DJ Primeaux	13.50	2	0	1.1	0	2	2	3	.000
Zac Cowan	13.50	4	1	4.0	11	6	2	8	.423
Connor Benge	27.00	3	0	0.2	2	2	0	1	.500

Weekend threads 🧵 pic.twitter.com/CAO54geAan

— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 13, 2026

Time for @SEC baseball ⏳ pic.twitter.com/lRZm7AXSgg

— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 12, 2026

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