By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — The Vanderbilt Commodores are in an unfamiliar position. With three games remaining in the regular season, they are unsure of their position regarding the NCAA Tournament.
They have made it the last 17 consecutive seasons, but this year their record in conference play is 12-15 after Sunday’s 3-0 win over Tennessee.
The Commodores still lost the series, but at least they ended their losing streaks at nine to Tennessee and within the SEC overall.
They remain in fifth among Eastern Division teams, and their weekend opponent Kentucky leads the East at 20-7, and are 20-5 at home.
Vanderbilt has had an awful year on the road in conference play at 3-10. The conventional wisdom is they need at least 13 SEC wins to qualify for an NCAA regional. A sweep gives them a 15-15 mark, while taking the series would at least give them 14 conference victories.
Vandy needs more frim their bullpen. Relief pitching cost them two victories in the Tennessee series. Their hope is that the Sunday relief performance, where a 3-0 lead was protected, will be the start of a new streak.
Vanderbilt also has not been among the league leaders in offense, ranking near the bottom in home runs and the lower half of the conference in runs scored, and batting average.
Still at 34-18, a good weekend showing against Kentucky, coupled with a good performance in the SEC Tournament, should be enough to keep the NCAA streak alive.
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