NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Vanderbilt defeated South Carolina 9-5 in an afternoon Southeastern Conference game Friday at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium. The Commodores improved to 31-23 overall, while the Gamecocks fell to 22-33.

Vanderbilt jumped ahead with five runs in the first inning. Ryker Waite, Braden Holcomb, and others drove in runs. The Commodores added two more in the third on Waite’s RBI double. South Carolina answered with two runs in the fourth, then two in the seventh, but Vanderbilt tacked on single runs in the eighth to secure the victory.

Wyatt Nadeau earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out two. Matthew Shorey also threw two innings, giving up one run and fanning three. Tyler Baird worked 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs with one strikeout. Brennan Seiber and Luke Guth combined for the final 1.1 innings.

For South Carolina, Alex Valentin started, lasting five innings with no hits but four earned runs and four strikeouts. Zach Russell surrendered two earned runs in two innings. Josh Gregoire pitched a scoreless inning.

Waite went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs. Holcomb was 3 for 5 with two RBIs. The teams play again Saturday.