NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Mike Mancini launched two home runs and drove in six runs, powering the Vanderbilt Commodores to a 10-5 comeback victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in a non-conference baseball game Thursday night at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

The game turned on a dramatic eight-run outburst by Vanderbilt in the bottom of the eighth inning, erasing a 5-2 deficit and snapping a tight pitcher’s duel wide open.

For six and one-third innings, Oklahoma starter LJ Mercurius dominated the Commodores, striking out 13 batters while allowing just three earned runs on no hits. He exited with one out in the seventh inning after issuing a walk and a hit batter, having protected a 5-2 lead. That advantage was built on a two-run homer by Deiten Lachance in the fourth inning and a two-run rally in the eighth, highlighted by RBI doubles from Trey Gambill and Brendan Brock.

Vanderbilt starter Connor Fennell matched Mercurius for much of the night, striking out 10 over seven and one-third innings while yielding three earned runs on seven hits. His effort kept the Commodores within striking distance, setting the stage for the late fireworks.

The pivotal eighth inning began with Vanderbilt trailing 5-4. After Jason Bodin relieved for Oklahoma, Braden Holcomb walked, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on the same play to tie the game. Liam Johnstone then gave Vanderbilt its first lead with a solo home run to right-center field.

The floodgates opened fully after Oklahoma brought in reliever G. Jones. With two runners on, Mancini stepped to the plate and delivered the decisive blow, a three-run homer to right-center to cap his monumental night. The second baseman finished 3 for 5, having also hit a solo shot in the sixth inning and a two-run double in the seventh to begin the Commodores’ rally from an early 5-0 hole.

Oklahoma mounted a final threat in the ninth, scoring once on an RBI double by Camden Johnson, but could not overcome the deficit.

The win improved Vanderbilt’s record to 21-14, while Oklahoma fell to 22-11. The two teams are scheduled to continue their series Friday and Saturday.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly Vanderbilt’s eight-run bottom of the eighth inning. The frame transformed a 5-2 Oklahoma lead, which had just been reinforced in the top of the inning, into a 10-5 Vanderbilt command. It featured a combination of opportunistic small ball, a clutch go-ahead homer, and the crushing grand finale from Mancini, completely reversing the game’s momentum and outcome in a single, prolonged offensive explosion.