SEC baseball Friday recap: Vandy's combined no-hitter, A&M tops Arkansas, more

It was an eventful Friday night of SEC baseball. 

Christian Little photo courtesy of Vanderbilt athletics. 

Vandy's Little, McElvain combine to no-hit Kentucky

Vanderbilt's Chris McElvain threw seven innings and struck out nine, while Christian Little added four strikeouts over two frames, as the Commodores no-hit Kentucky in a 10-0 shellacking at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington on Friday evening. Vanderbilt (27-10, 8-8 SEC) had 12 hits, with five Commodores (led by Spencer Jones, who had three RBIs) having at least two. 

Kentucky (21-17, 5-11) starter Mason Hazelwood pitched well, allowing two runs while striking out five in five innings, but the Wildcat bullpen allowed Vanderbilt to break the game open, starting with a four-run sixth. 

It's Vandy's first combined no-hitter since coach Tim Corbin's first season (2003), though Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter threw individual no-hitters in 2019 and 2021, respectively. McElvain and Little combined for four walks, but otherwise no baserunners. Left fielder Calvin Hewett saved a potential home run against McElvain in the early innings. 

Aggies take opener in low-scoring affair 

Texas A&M (24-13, 9-7) scratched for two runs in the fourth thanks to a Troy Claunch single and a bases loaded walked which proved to be the difference in a 2-1 victory at Blue Bell Park in College Station. A&M starter Nathan Dettmer delivered 5 innings allowing one run while Jacob Palisch added four scoreless innings. 

Meanwhile Arkansas (30-8, 11-5) starter Connor Noland turned in six innings with seven strikeouts while allowing the two runs. The Razorback offense tallied just five hits with only one for extra bases. 

Bulldogs even series in Oxford behind bats

Ole Miss (22-16, 6-11) blasted four solo home runs in the first two innings to take a commanding 4-1 lead, but Mississippi State starter Preston Johnson settled in to log five innings tallying eight strikeouts in a 10-7 win. 

The Bulldogs (23-17, 7-10) countered with 9 consecutive runs, highlighted by a pair of two-run homers from Hunter Hines and Kellum Clark in the 7th inning. Things got tight late thanks to a two-run double from Kemp Alderman, but the MSU bullpen held the lead. 

The Rebels had home runs from Tim Elko, Jacob Gonzalez, Justin Bench and Peyton Chatagnier.

LSU walks-off the battle of the Tigers

LSU and Missouri traded punches including a Luke Mann solo HR that tied things in the eighth, but LSU held on for a 4-3 home win against Missouri. 

LSU (26-12, 9-8) arrived via committee as it had five pitchers combine for one earned run on the weekend. Meanwhile Tony Neubuck allowed three over six frames for Missouri (22-14, 5-12). After escaping a couple of jams, the difference came via a Cade Doughty base hit in the bottom of the 10th plating the walk-off run. 

Brayden Jobert was the only LSU hitter with two hits, and added an RBI. Missouri shortstop Josh Day led his team with two hits. 

Burns, Vols shut down Florida

Tennessee (35-3, 15-1) won its fourth-straight game as the Vols went to Gainesville and earned an 8-2 win behind Chase Burns, who gave up two runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings.

The Vols allowed just three hits, with Burns giving two, while Ben Joyce and Redmond Walsh combined to finish the night. Trey Lipscomb smashed a three-run home run (his 16th) as part of a two-hit night. 

Florida (23-15, 6-10) was without normal Friday-night starter Hunter Barco, who was scratched earlier in the week due to forearm discomfort. Redshirt freshman Ryan Slater allowed all eight runs. Mac Guscette's home run was the Gators' offensive highlight. 

Auburn tops South Carolina in series opener

Hayden Mullins led a group of Auburn pitchers that allowed just four hits as the Tigers beat South Carolina, 6-3, for a Friday night win in Plainsman Park. Mullins went 5 1/3 innings and struck out six to earn a win, while Blake Burkhalter struck out four of the five hitters he faced to get the save. 

Sonny DiChiara had two hits and one of three Auburn home runs, the others belonging to Nate LaRue and Bobby Peirce. 

Andrew Eyster popped his sixth homer of the year for the Gamecocks (19-18, 6-10), who got five innings of one-run, five-strikeout relief from John Gilreath.

Crisp shines as Georgia beats Alabama

Nolan Crisp shut out Alabama for five innings and Cole Wagner clubbed a three-run home run as Georgia got a 4-2 road win against Alabama.

Georgia (27-11, 10-6) touched Garrett McMillan for four runs in six innings. Alabama (23-16, 8-8) had 12 hits, including homers from Dominic Tamez and William Hamiter.