HOOVER, Ala. — Pinch-hitter Calvin Hewett’s three-run double capped a five-run eighth inning, and fourth-seeded Vanderbilt defeated 10th-seeded Texas A&M 10-4 on Sunday to win the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. opened the eighth with a double and went to third base on a groundout before scoring on a wild pitch. Parker Noland then singled in Davis Diaz, who walked after Bradfield’s double. A single by Chris Maldonado and a walk to RJ Austin loaded the bases for Hewett, who ripped a double down the left-field line on a 3-2 pitch.
Troy LaNeve went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in the second for the Commodores (41-18) before being replaced by Hewett. Maldonado and Noland had three hits apiece.
Patrick Reilly (5-3), the second of five pitchers used by Vanderbilt, got the win after allowing three runs and five hits in four innings.
Max Kaufer had a two-run single in the sixth inning to pull Texas A&M into a 4-4 tie. LaNeve, who had a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, put the Commodores back on top when he scored on a groundout.