Why Tim Corbin plans to 'audit' Vanderbilt baseball after SEC Tournament loss

HOOVER, AL ― Vanderbilt baseball is facing its reckoning. The 12th-seeded Commodores (33-25) are likely to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 — a 19-year streak that is, for at least the next few days, the longest active run in the country — after an 8-3 loss to No. 5 seed Florida on May 20 in the second round of the SEC Tournament.

For years, the problem was hitting. Vanderbilt had fearsome pitching staffs but offenses that couldn't hit home runs and would disappear in the postseason. This time, it was a different — and more concerning — problem.

New hitting coach Jason Esposito worked wonders as the team set a single-season home run record. While players like Braden Holcomb, Colin Barczi and Mike Mancini hit more home runs this season, it wasn't just about power. Brodie Johnston went from a .

260 average to . 332 and from 10 walks to 35. But the pitching was never good enough, and especially not after losing key pieces like Austin Nye, Matthew Shorey and England Bryan for most of the season.