Photo by David Cohen (BHEphotos)
Nashville, Tenn. — Vanderbilt is set to host 34 games at Hawkins Field in 2017 with an additional two games in downtown Nashville at First Tennessee Park.
The Commodores open the season on the road for the first time since 2014 when the team makes the trek to San Diego to take on the Toreros Feb. 17-19. VU swept USD in a season-opening series at Hawkins Field last season and makes the team’s first trip to San Diego since 2011 when the Dores opened the season against the Toreros for three games and one game against San Diego State.
Vandy opens the home schedule and the 15th season inside the friendly confines of Hawkins Field on Wednesday, Feb. 22 against Evansville. The game against the Purple Aces kicks off a 15-game home stand that will take the Commodores all the way through the team’s non-conference weekend schedule. The first weekend series at home will be against UIC Feb. 24-26 followed by a two-game, midweek series against Southeast Louisiana. The Dores and Lions meet for the first time in history on Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb. 28, March 1). Cal State Northridge makes its first trip to Nashville to take on the Commodores the weekend of March 3-5. The three-game set with the Matadors caps a week of opponents Vanderbilt has never played.
Central Arkansas returns to The Hawk for a two-game series March 7-8. The Dores slipped by the Bears 8-6 last April. A three-game series against St. Mary’s is set for March 10-12 in a series the two teams have not played since 1985 with only two games in history. Western Kentucky makes the short drive down I-65 on March 14 for the Dores’ final tune-up before conference play begins at Ole Miss. The Commodores travel to Oxford, Miss. to open league play March 17-19. The trip to Oxford will be Vandy’s first since a 2013 sweep as part of the Dores’ league record 26-3 mark that season.
Vanderbilt returns to Nashville to play the first of two consecutive Tuesday games in downtown at First Tennessee Park. The first game is set for March 21 against Belmont with the following Tuesday against Lipscomb.
Texas A&M will be the first SEC team to enter Hawkins Field when the Aggies travel to Music City March 24-26. The Aggies have claimed both series against the Commodores since joining the league, including the lone series at The Hawk in 2013. Vandy returns to the road March 31-April 1 at Kentucky. The Commodores have won seven straight series against the Wildcats dating back to 2010.
The Dores make a one-night stand at home against UT-Martin on April 4 before hitting the road again to South Carolina for the team’s first Thursday night game of the year April 6. The Commodores and Gamecocks have nearly split the team’s last 12 games with VU going 7-5.
Vanderbilt returns home to host four games with the team’s annual showdown against Tennessee Tech on April 11 followed by another Thursday-Sunday series as the Florida Gators hit town April 13-15. Four straight road games the following week see VU visiting Middle Tennessee (April 18) and Georgia (April 21-23). The Commodores have won 11 straight against the Bulldogs.
A three-game series against Tennessee April 28-30 begins a seven-game home stand that features Presbyterian (May 2) and ends with a three-game set against Missouri May 5-7. The Commodores hope to continue their dominance over the Tigers having never lost to Mizzou with a perfect 13-0 record.
A tough week on the road awaits VU beginning May 9 in Louisville at the Battle of the Barrel. A trip to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks follows as the Dores make the trek to Fayetteville for the first time since 2014. The Commodores return home to wrap up the regular season with four games at Hawkins Field. Middle Tennessee opens the home stand May 16 before Alabama rolls in for the final weekend series of the season May 18-20. The Crimson Tide makes its first visit to Nashville since 2013 when the two teams squared off on the final weekend.
