NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Braden Holcomb launched two home runs and drove in six runs Tuesday, powering the Vanderbilt Commodores to a 15-3 rout of the Evansville Purple Aces in a nonconference baseball game at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, was decided by a massive second-inning outburst from the Commodores. After spotting Evansville a three-run lead in the top of the first, Vanderbilt sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs to seize control.

The inning was capped by a towering grand slam from left fielder Mike Mancini, who turned on a pitch and sent it over the left-field wall to clear the bases. That swing erased the early deficit and gave Vanderbilt a 6-3 lead it would not relinquish.

Holcomb, the Commodores’ center fielder, ensured the lead would grow. He blasted a two-run homer in the fourth inning to extend the advantage to 10-3. Then, in the sixth, he delivered the decisive blow with another powerful swing, a grand slam of his own down the right-field line that broke the game open at 14-3. Holcomb finished 2-for-4, and his six RBIs marked a career high, continuing a torrid stretch at the plate.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably Vanderbilt’s six-run second inning. Evansville had built early momentum, loading the bases in the first inning and capitalizing on patient at-bats. The Purple Aces’ pitching, however, unraveled in the second. After a hit batter and a double put two runners in scoring position, a sacrifice fly by Korbin Reynolds plated Vanderbilt’s first run. Two walks and a bases-loaded walk brought in another, setting the stage for Mancini’s game-changing grand slam. The inning transformed the contest from a potential upset into a comfortable Vanderbilt lead, setting the tone for the remainder of the lopsided affair.

Evansville’s offense was limited to seven hits. Right fielder Harrison Taubert and second baseman Wyatt Pennington provided highlights with back-to-back solo home runs in the third inning. Pennington added an RBI double in the seventh, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Vanderbilt’s 10-hit attack was supplemented by 12 walks and three hit batters issued by six Evansville pitchers. Reynolds contributed three RBIs for the Commodores.

The Vanderbilt bullpen dominated, combining for 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Alex Kranzler was particularly sharp, striking out three over two perfect innings. Jakob Schulz, Hudson Barton and Luke Guth also contributed scoreless outings to seal the win. Evansville reliever Cameron Mosier recorded two strikeouts in his 0.2 innings of work.

With the victory, Vanderbilt improved to 7-2 this season, while Evansville fell to 1-6. The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast a 7-2 Vanderbilt win. The Commodores’ ELO win probability was set at 86.6%.

Vanderbilt next travels to Las Vegas for a weekend tournament, facing UC Irvine on Friday. Evansville returns home to host Milwaukee in a three-game series starting Friday.