Adam Sparks

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

No. 4 Vanderbilt’s hot hitting start and Jordan Sheffield’s gem on the mound earned a 6-3 win over No. 6 South Carolina in the series opener Thursday night.

Sheffield (4-1), a sophomore right-hander from Tullahoma, worked seven strong innings. He struck out nine and gave up three runs (two earned) on just five hits.

Ben Bowden held the lead, working two shutout innings and striking out three of the six batters he faced for his third save.

Two freshmen sparked the Vanderbilt (22-4, 5-2 SEC) lineup. Ethan Paul hit a solo home run and a double. Alonzo Jones was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.

Junior Bryan Reynolds had a double and scored three runs.

The Commodores had eight hits, including three in a decisive four-run first inning.

Facing South Carolina ace Clarke Schmidt (6-1), Vanderbilt’s Ro Coleman hit a lead-off single in the first, Jeren Kendall walked, and Reynolds reached on an error to load the bases. Jones smacked a double down the left-field line to score two runs.

Jason Delay followed with an RBI single, and Jones later scored on a double-play groundout for a 4-0 lead that South Carolina (23-4, 6-1 SEC) never overcame.

Game two will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and game three will be 2 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network).

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.