Vanderbilt Wins Doubleheader on Rigdon Walk-Off Homer
Rustan Rigdon's three-run walk-off home run lifted Vanderbilt past Austin Peay 12-9 in the first of two exhibition games.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Baseball
Vanderbilt baseball beat Austin Peay 12-9 in the first game of an exhibition doubleheader at Hawkins Field, on a walk-off three-run home run by Rustan Rigdon. The second game ended in a 2-2 tie.
Why it matters
The exhibition gave Vanderbilt's pitching staff and lineup a game-condition look before the regular season. Using 13 pitchers across the two games spread the innings among many arms.
The exhibition was played as two eight-inning games, with stats combined across both contests and some position players appearing in only one game. Vanderbilt's pitching staff allowed 11 walks and struck out 22 batters over 16 innings, with no pitcher working more than two innings.
The players
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt University's NCAA Division I baseball program, a member of the Southeastern Conference, based in Nashville.
Austin Peay Governors
The baseball program of Austin Peay State University, an NCAA Division I team based in Clarksville, Tennessee.
The details
Rustan Rigdon, Kaleb Traylor and Tommy Goodin each recorded three hits across the two games, while Bud Coombs and Blaize Ward homered. The exhibition was played at Hawkins Field, where Rigdon's walk-off blast decided the first game.
Timeline
Nov. 8, 2026: Vanderbilt and Austin Peay played the exhibition doubleheader at Hawkins Field.
Season Trajectory
Exhibition games like this one let NCAA Division I programs test pitching depth and lineup combinations before the regular season begins. Vanderbilt's use of 13 pitchers across two games points to an early evaluation of its arms rather than a push for individual results.
The exhibition results give fantasy and roster watchers an early read on Vanderbilt's hitters, with Rigdon, Traylor and Goodin each collecting three hits. Pitching usage across 13 arms signals that bullpen roles may remain unsettled heading into the season.
The takeaway
Early exhibition results rarely settle roster questions, but they show which hitters are making contact and which pitchers are throwing strikes. Readers following the program should watch how these performances translate once regular-season games begin.
Further reading
For more on the local program, see Nashville Baseball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tennessean.
