The trend continued Saturday for the Tennessee Volunteers (22-25, 11-12 SEC) as they dug themselves in an early hole and were unable to work their way out. This time allowing visiting Vanderbilt to build a 9-0 advantage before ultimately falling 9-2.

"It was a lot like yesterday, we just fell behind early, and it's hard to come out of the hole against a team like Vandy," coach Todd Raleigh said. "The past three games, it seems like we've been down three or four in the first inning and it just kind of snowballs."

Command issues troubled starter Bryan Morgado early and often in his four innings on the mound. The redshirt freshman gave up seven runs on nine hits while allowing three walks as he fell to 5-3 on the season.

"[Morgado] just didn't have his command, everything was up and when you fall behind and pitch up, it's not a good format for anybody," Raleigh said.

Much like the Friday night contest, Vanderbilt received a quality outing from their starter. This time it was Caleb Cotham who pitched seven innings and allowed only two runs and six hits.

Vanderbilt's similarities continued on the offensive side as they got their offense started early and never let up.

Vanderbilt (33-13,13-9 SEC) used a sacrifice fly from Alex Feinberg, a two-run double from Shea Robin and an RBI single from Andrew Giobbi to push across four runs in three consecutive at-bats to build a 4-0 lead in the first.

After the initial four-run first inning, the Commodores added a run in each of the next three innings as well as the seventh and eighth innings to build a 9-0 advantage.

The similarities between the two games continued when the Vols attempted another late-inning rally.

Tennessee had loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth when a Kentrail Davis walk brought home their first run of the game. Freshman Jarred Frazier followed in the Vols' next the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Danny Lima.

The two runs in the eighth proved to be all the Vols could muster in their rally attempt.

The series will conclude on Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium with first pitch at 2 p.m. Ty'Relle Harris will be the starting pitcher for the Vols.

Game Notes: 

The win for Vanderbilt Saturday clinched the series for the visiting team -- the first time in 2008 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium that the home-standing Vols have lost a three-game set.

The loss was the Vols fourth-consecutive defeat and their sixth loss in their last seven games. The loss also brought Tennessee to below .500 in the SEC for the first time this season.

After sweeping LSU to start conference play the Vols then won six of their next 12 games to finish at 9-6 halfway through conference play. Since then, the Vols have won only two of eight SEC games to fall to 11-12 in a tight SEC East battle.