Timely hitting won Tennessee its series against Vanderbilt Saturday, but it couldn't replicate that success on Sunday.

The No. 1 Vols, who beat the Commodores to claim its eighth-straight series in Game 2, totaled just three hits and squandered a number of opportunities with base runners to drop Game 3 to the Commodores, 3-0 at Hawkins Field in Nashville.

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The top of Tennessee's order, which was key in beating Vanderbilt in the previous two games, combined to go 0-and-11 at the plate. Fifth in the order, Dylan Dreiling recorded all three of the Vols' hits.

When Tennessee (42-10, 19-8 SEC) did get runners on base, it was unable to take advantage, stranding seven.

Commodores (34-18, 12-15) starting pitcher J.D. Thompson tossed nine strikeouts while allowing just two hits in 6.0 innings of work.

Right-handed reliever Nate Snead limited Vanderbilt in his 4.1 inning on the mound, striking out four while allowing four hits and no runs. Tennessee pitchers stranded 10 Commodores runners.

Tennessee

1. Christian Moore (R) - 2B

2. Blake Burke (L) - 1B

3. Billy Amick (R) - 3B

4. Kavares Tears (L) - RF

5. Dylan Dreiling (L) - LF

6. Hunter Ensley (R) - CF

7. Dean Curley (R) - SS

8. Robin Villeneuve (R) - DH

9. Cal Stark (R) - C

LHP Zander Sechrist

Vanderbilt

1. Jonathan Vastine (L) - SS

2. Jacob Humphrey (R) - CF

3. R.J. Austin (R) - 1B

4. Alan Espinal (R) - C

5. Colin Barczi (R) - DH

6. Camden Kozeal (L) - 2B

7. Matthew Polk (R) - RF

8. Jack Bugler (R) - LF

9. Davis Diaz (R) - 3B

LHP J.D. Thompson

Vanderbilt flipped the script in the bottom of the first.

After falling behind Tennessee earl in each of the first two games of the series, Alan Espinal paid off a base-runner with a two-run home run to right field to put the Commodores up 2-0.

Jonathan Vastine added to the lead with a single that dropped into shallow right that scored Camden Kozeal in the second.

Nate Snead, who came in relief of Zander Sechrist to begin the third, gave up a double in the frame but stranded the runner with his first strikeout to hold Vanderbilt scoreless for the first time.

Snead found himself in trouble in the fourth after giving up a couple of infield singles. A walk loaded the bases with two outs but Snead managed to escape the jam with a ground out at first to keep the Vols within striking distance.

Looking to respond at the plate, Tennessee didn't need a hit to get a pair of runners on with no outs in the fifth after Hunter Ensley drew a lead off walk and Dean Curley wore a pitch.

Three-straight outs, though followed and stranded both runners and left the Vols empty-handed again.

Tennessee threatened again in the seventh, starting with a Dylan Dreiling single up the middle and a hit by pitch that posted two runners, but in a familiar twist, the Vols had nothing to show for it.

Vanderbilt looked in position to add some insurance in the eighth, getting two runners on, but Kirby Connell came out of the bullpen and stranded both there as the Vols headed to the ninth and down to their last three outs.

Dreiling singled through the left side for this third hit with one out but a fielder's choice and strikeout ended any chance Tennessee had at rallying.

Nate Snead gets out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning.

After drawing even with Kentucky for first place in the SEC standings, Tennessee is now a game behind the Wildcats again.

The Vols head into the final week of the regular season in second place but still within striking distance of the conference title.

Tennessee hosts Belmont on Tuesday (6 p.m. ET, SEC Network+) before a three-game tilt against South Carolina at Lindsey Nelson Stadium beginning Thursday.

The Gamecocks are coming off of a series loss to Georgia.

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