NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Connor Hamilton delivered a dominant complete-game performance on the mound, and the Vanderbilt Commodores’ offense erupted for six runs in the second inning to power past the Belmont Bruins 11-3 in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

Hamilton, Vanderbilt’s starting pitcher, was the story of the game. He stifled the Bruins’ lineup over nine full innings, allowing just seven hits and two earned runs while striking out 11 batters and walking none. The right-hander’s command was impeccable, needing only 108 pitches to navigate the Belmont order and provide crucial relief for a Commodores bullpen that had been taxed during a grueling weekend series against Tennessee.

The game’s decisive moment came in the bottom of the second inning. Trailing 3-0, Vanderbilt sent 10 batters to the plate against Belmont starter Andrew Perry and reliever Cole Kenyon. The rally was sparked by a ground-rule double from Rigdon and catalyzed by a costly Belmont error. With two on and two out, Ryker Waite hit a sharp single back to the mound. Perry’s errant throw on the play allowed two runs to score, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Waite then stole third and scored on an RBI single from Tommy Goodin to tie the game. After a walk loaded the bases, Brodie Johnston singled to left field to drive in another run, giving Vanderbilt a 4-3 lead and chasing Perry from the game. Kenyon entered and allowed Johnston’s hit before finally ending the inning, but the Commodores had seized control for good.

Vanderbilt continued to add on, scoring three more in the fourth inning on an RBI double from L. Johnston, a run-scoring double from Goodin and a sacrifice fly from Brodie Johnston. The Commodores tacked on single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. The seventh-inning run came on a solo home run by Whitcomb off Belmont reliever Jonathon Van Ness.

Belmont’s offense, which had jumped to an early lead without the benefit of a hit in the first inning, struggled to solve Hamilton after the second. The Bruins scored their first run on a fielder’s choice in the first, added another in the fourth on an RBI single from Cavan McMean that scored Charlie Davi, and plated their final run on an unearned tally in the ninth. Davi and Jake Maddox each had two hits for Belmont, with Maddox driving in a run.

The Bruins used six pitchers in the loss. Lake Morris, Sam Heyman, Jonathon Van Ness and Brooks McDonnough combined for 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, but the early damage proved insurmountable against Hamilton’s sterling outing.

With the win, Vanderbilt improved its season record to 18-12. The Commodores, who entered the game with significant momentum after taking two of three from top-ranked Tennessee over the weekend, now look ahead to a Southeastern Conference road series at Texas A&M beginning Thursday.

Belmont fell to 10-19 with the loss. The Bruins, who had won a series against Illinois-Chicago last weekend but have struggled for consistency this season, will open a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Murray State on Thursday.

The game’s outcome aligned with statistical projections, though the margin was wider than forecast. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 5-3 Vanderbilt victory, and its ELO system gave the Commodores an 88 percent probability to win. Hamilton’s performance far exceeded his previous outing against Tennessee Tech on March 24, where he allowed four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, and was the key factor in Vanderbilt exceeding those expectations.