Trailblazers unable to avoid the big inning as VU falls to No. 12 Kellogg

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team caught some tough breaks in an otherwise strong showing Saturday night at Jerry Blemker Field against NJCAA Division II No. 12-ranked Kellogg Community College.

VU surrendered four runs in the third inning, which would prove to be the difference as the Bruins came away with the 5-2 victory over the Blazers.

The Trailblazers struck first Saturday night after freshman Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) led off the second inning and reached base on an error.

Whitehead would advance to third on a passed ball and later score on a ground out by freshman Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

This was immediately answered by the Bruins who put together a four-run third inning to grab the lead and control of the game back with a 4-1 advantage.

Vincennes struggled to get batters on all night against the Kellogg pitching staff, with the Bruins adding an insurance run in the seventh.

VU would get this run back in the eighth after sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) led off the inning with a walk.

Evans would score later in the inning on an RBI single by Carter Whitehead to cut the Kellogg lead to 5-2.

This would be as close as the Blazers would get however after stranding runners on second and third in the eighth, with Kellogg closing out the game to pick up the 5-2 victory at Jerry Blemker Field.

"Our pitcher gave up a four spot and walked their nine-hole hitter," VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "Then we had a miscommunication on where we are supposed to throw the ball from the outfield which allowed them to get another base runner to second and they were able to get a base hit and score two more runs out of that instead of keeping the double play in order."

"There were some mental mistakes there and obviously we cannot give up crooked numbers," Barney added. "Especially against really good clubs and that's what we've got in here this weekend. Plus, our hitters have to step up. In crucial situations, our hitters have to step up. It's easy to play when we are down. It's easy to get a hit but when there are runners on first and second and it's a close ball game, our hitters have to step up and we haven't done that yet this year."

VU was led on the mound by freshman starter Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) who really settled down after the four-run third inning.

Craggs threw five and one-third innings, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out five.

Freshman Jack Robinson (Mooresville, Ind.) entered to retire the final two batters of the sixth inning, including one strikeout.

Freshman Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) pitched he seventh, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Freshman Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) pitched the eighth and freshman Xavier Hart (Jeffersonville, Ind.) pitched the ninth for VU. Pinson ended with one strikeout while Hart punched out two in his inning of work.

"Jack Robinson, Jace Parnin and Xavier Hart, all three of those guys threw really well for us today," Barney said. "Jack came in and got the first two guys out that he was supposed to. Then we turned around with Jace Parnin and he did a good job, even though he gave up a run. Then Xavier Hart got his inning at the end and we've still got those guys ready to roll tomorrow in case we need them."

The tough weekend for the Trailblazer baseball team will continue tomorrow, Sunday, March 5 when VU plays host to Lincoln Trail College at 1 p.m. eastern and NJCAA Division I No. 10-ranked Wabash Valley College at 6 p.m. eastern.

"We've got to come into tomorrow with the mindset to win two ball games," Barney said. "We have to find a way to compete against good clubs and get some confidence against the really good clubs. It's easy to play against lesser teams but against the good teams we have to find ways to win."

"There are no more moral victories when it comes to this team," Barney added. "We have to be ready to play and step up in crunch time. We have to get some quality outings from Josh McCormick who is starting against Lincoln Trail and Dawson Blaylock against Wabash Valley and be ready for other guys to step in and our hitters to step up when the opportunities present themselves."

BOX SCORE

Kellogg – 004   000   100 – 5

VU (4-9) – 010   000   010 – 2

VINCENNES HITTING

RBI – Whitehead, Hinton. SB – Whitehead. BB – Elliott, Evans, Juarez, Egger 2.