The Commodores will give their midweek starter a chance to showoff against SEC competition this weekend against the Kentucky Wildcats.
For the first time in quite a while, Austin Nye’s Tuesday evening didn’t include taking the mound to help secure a midweek victory for Vanderbilt.
This marked the first week of the season that the Commodores didn’t schedule a midweek game. That gave Nye—who has started every midweek matchup for Vanderbilt this year—a well-earned break. His most recent outing came against then-No. 20 Louisville, where he delivered five strong innings, throwing 75 pitches and allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five.
Throughout the season, Nye has been outstanding in his midweek role. Vanderbilt has only dropped one midweek game out of 12, and the freshman right-hander has put up an impressive stat line: a 2-0 record, 2.03 ERA, 51 strikeouts, 18 walks, and only 10 earned runs allowed. Those numbers stack up well against nearly any pitcher on the staff.
Now, Nye is set for a new challenge—his first SEC start.
Vanderbilt is adjusting its weekend rotation for the final conference series against Kentucky. Nye will take the ball in Thursday’s opener, followed by JD Thompson and Cody Bowker in games two and three. Connor Fennell, who started last Sunday, will not be part of this weekend’s starting rotation.
Here’s how the pitching matchups shape up for the series between Kentucky and No. 9 Vanderbilt:
Game One
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Kentucky: RHP Nate Harris (4-2, 3.65 ERA, 49.1 IP, 35 SO, 21 BB, 20 ER, .222 opponent avg)
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Vanderbilt: RHP Austin Nye (2-0, 2.03 ERA, 44.1 IP, 51 SO, 18 BB, 10 ER, .205 opponent avg)
RHP Nic McCay (5-0, 4.06 ERA, 64.1 IP, 62 SO, 36 BB, 29 ER, .192 b/avg.) vs. LHP JD Thompson (4-5, 3.88 ERA, 72 IP, 94 SO, 23 BB, 31 ER, .234 b/avg.)
Game Three
Cody Bowker every even inning pic.twitter.com/onX2VPGgWT
— Barstool Vandy (@BarstoolVandy) May 3, 2025
LHP Ben Cleaver (6-3, 3.30 ERA, 71 IP, 79 SO, 26 BB, 26 ER, .183 b/avg.) vs. RHP Cody Bowker (2-4, 4.76 ERA, 58.2 IP, 78 SO, 26 BB, 31 ER, .220 b/avg.)
Notable Bullpen Arms
Vanderbilt Commodores Bullpen Breakdown
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Connor Fennell (RHP): Undefeated at 5-0, Fennell owns a 3.19 ERA over 42.1 innings, with a dominant 75 strikeouts, just 10 walks, and opponents hitting a mere .182 against him.
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Sawyer Hawks (RHP): A key weapon out of the bullpen, Hawks is 4-0 with an outstanding 1.67 ERA across 37.2 innings, racking up 49 strikeouts while limiting hitters to a .167 average.
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Miller Green (LHP): Though sitting at 1-2, Green has a 4.35 ERA in 20.2 innings with 24 strikeouts, 8 walks, and a .293 opponent batting average.
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Alex Kranzler (RHP): Sporting a 6-1 record, Kranzler has a 4.05 ERA in 33.1 innings, with 35 strikeouts and a stingy .189 opponent average.
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Tommy O’Rourke (RHP): O’Rourke is 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA in limited action (14.2 IP), striking out 17 and holding opponents to a .189 average.
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Ethan McElvain (LHP): Despite a 1-3 record and higher 6.49 ERA, McElvain has notched 43 strikeouts in 26.1 innings, although he’s walked 27 and allowed a .265 average.
Kentucky Wildcats Bullpen Breakdown
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James McCoy (RHP): One of the most effective relievers, McCoy is 1-0 with 3 saves and a stellar 0.63 ERA in 14.1 innings. He’s allowed a .163 average against while issuing 6 walks and striking out 11.
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Simon Gregersen (RHP): Though winless at 0-3, Gregersen has a respectable 3.90 ERA in 27.2 innings, with 25 strikeouts and a .230 opponent average.
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Scott Rouse (RHP): With a 4-1 record, Rouse carries a 5.22 ERA over 39.2 innings, featuring 46 strikeouts and a .268 batting average against.
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Ethan Walker (LHP): At 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA across 38.1 innings, Walker has fanned 39 hitters, walked 14, and allowed opponents to bat .274.
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