Buschmann to start finale

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin will alter his weekend rotation for the first time this season, replacing Saturday starter Jensen Lewis with Sunday's Ryan Mullins and starting Matt Buschmann in the series finale against Mississippi State. Jeremy Sowers will remain the Friday starter.

"We wanted to hold [Lewis] back a little bit so DJ [pitching coach Derek Johnson] could work with him on some things during the week," Corbin said. "It's hard to do that when he's starting during the weekend.

Lewis (4-4, 3.82 ERA) has lost four straight starts. In his last outing April 24, he surrendered seven hits and three runs (one earned) in a 4-2 loss to Florida.

Buschmann (5-1, 3.26 ERA) is 3-0 as a starter this season. However, in SEC action the sophomore right-hander sports a 6.39 ERA, allowing 12 runs (nine earned) in 12.2 innings.

Corbin will also start Mike Baxter at first base and shift Cesar Nicolas to designated hitter for Friday's contest.

- Anthony Lane