The VandyBoys were up to the task last weekend as they took the series from the No. 4 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks down in Fayetteville. The Dores performance last weekend was about as impressive a series defeat as anyone could ask for. In fact, it was the first visiting opponent to take a weekend series from the Hogs inside Baum-Walker stadium since 2019. This did wonders for the Commodores as they continue to carry their high-tide momentum into the final weekend of the regular season.
Vanderbilt has now won 4 of the last 5 SEC series and hopes to continue that pattern once more this weekend. Not only did last weekend’s series help the VandyBoys’ trajectory for the rest of the 2022 campaign, but it also boosted the Commodores’ postseason resume in a very significant way. Vanderbilt currently sits at No. 1 nationally in strength of schedule and No. 3 overall in RPI. These numbers are crucial in Vanderbilt’s argument for being a regional host site. Speaking of which, the latest D1 Baseball tournament projections have the VandyBoys as a projected 1 seed (14th overall) paired with Virginia Tech (3rd overall) in the Blacksburg Regional.
Another series win this weekend would ensure the Commodores of a Top-16 seed and play on their home turf in a Regional setting once again.
The Dores took care of business in the midweek finale against Middle Tennessee as they cruised to a 7-2 victory on Tuesday night.
On Deck, Tim Corbin and company welcome the Tigers of Louisiana State to The Hawk starting Thursday night in the final series of the SEC slate just before the conference tournament in Hoover next week. LSU currently sits at 34-18 overall and is tied with Vanderbilt in the SEC standings (5th overall) with a 14-13 record. LSU has won 3 of the last 4 weekend series; however, the Tigers are coming off a series loss (sweep) to Ole Miss this past weekend in Baton Rouge. The squad from Baton Rouge will roll into the Music City after handling Northwestern State 19-7.
Huge SEC tournament seeding implications will be solved this weekend as the Commodores and Tigers look to fight for a Top-4 seed, which would guarantee a first-round bye next week in Hoover. The VandyBoys can still finish anywhere from the 3 seed to the 9 and winning another SEC series this weekend would put the boys on West End in a great position.
The biggest series of the 2022 season awaits tomorrow at the Hawk on the horizon of postseason play. Let the excitement and chaos of college baseball begin!
The Dore Report 
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