NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Wyatt Nadeau delivered a dominant starting performance and the Vanderbilt Commodores’ offense erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning to power past the LSU Tigers 11-3 in a Southeastern Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

The victory, following a dramatic 13-12 Vanderbilt win on Friday, secured the series for the Commodores and leveled both teams’ overall records at 13-7.

The game’s decisive turn came in the bottom of the fifth inning, transforming a tight contest into a rout. LSU had carried a 3-2 lead into the frame, having scored its runs without a hit in the fourth on a combination of a double, a walk, a wild pitch and a throwing error by Vanderbilt pitcher Wyatt Nadeau on a pickoff attempt.

Vanderbilt quickly loaded the bases against LSU starter Cooper Moore with a walk to Tommy Goodin, a bunt single by Rigdon and a single by Johnston. A pitching change to Plog did not stem the tide. Logan Johnston reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Goodin and tied the game, aided by a throwing error from LSU first baseman Brown. A bases-loaded walk to Holcomb forced in another run, and a sacrifice fly by Mike Mancini gave Vanderbilt a 5-3 lead.

The crushing blow came from pinch-hitter Chris Maldonado. With two runners on, Maldonado launched a three-run homer to center field, capping the seven-run outburst and extending the Commodores’ lead to 8-3. The inning featured just three hits but was fueled by two LSU errors, two walks and timely hitting.

That surge provided more than enough support for Vanderbilt starter Wyatt Nadeau, who was the top star of the game. The right-hander worked seven strong innings, allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits. He struck out 10 batters and walked two, effectively neutralizing the LSU lineup for most of the night. Tyler Baird closed the game with two perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

LSU’s offense, which produced 12 runs on Friday, was stifled. The Tigers managed only four hits, with Omar Serna’s two-run single in the seventh inning accounting for their only runs driven in by a hit. Vanderbilt pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts.

Vanderbilt added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Mancini drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth, and Goodin led off the seventh with a solo home run to left-center field.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 6-5 LSU victory and whose ELO system gave the Tigers a 53.2 percent probability to win.

The two teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday afternoon.