Vanderbilt Commodores baseball Ride Will Hampton’s Grand Slam and Six-Run Ninth to 13–6 Victory Over Kentucky Wildcats baseball
LEXINGTON, Ky. | In a game that flipped from early deficit to late domination, the Vanderbilt Commodores baseball delivered a statement win Sunday, overpowering the Kentucky Wildcats baseball 13–6 at Kentucky Proud Park to secure a critical SEC series on the road.
Vanderbilt (24–17, 9–9 SEC) leaned on timely hitting and explosive offense, highlighted by a breakout performance from freshman Will Hampton. Making his first collegiate start, Hampton reached base in all four plate appearances and delivered the defining moment of the game—a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, his first career home run.
The Commodores trailed early after Kentucky capitalized on second-inning opportunities, plating two runs via a hit-by-pitch and a bases-loaded walk. The Wildcats extended their lead to 3–1 in the fifth, putting Vanderbilt in a familiar comeback position.
That’s when the bats came alive.
Colin Barczi ignited the rally in the sixth with a two-run homer—his seventh of the season—to tie the game. Moments later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Hampton stepped to the plate and launched a towering grand slam, flipping the momentum and giving Vanderbilt a 7–3 lead.
Kentucky (26–12, 8–10 SEC) refused to go quietly, chipping away with runs in the sixth and eighth innings to close the gap to just one run entering the ninth. But Vanderbilt responded like a contender.

