Strong start by McCormick gives Blazers doubleheader split with Lewis & Clark

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team returned to Jerry Blemker Field after being on the road the past two weekends to host a Mid-West Athletic Conference series with Lewis & Clark Community College Saturday evening.

Lewis & Clark took game one of the day 8-1 before the host Blazers returned to take game two 3-2 behind six strong innings out of freshman Josh McCormick (Indianapolis, Ind.).

The day got off to a great start for Vincennes, with VU getting on the board in the bottom of the first after sophomore Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.) walked and later scored on an RBI single by sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.).

Lewis & Clark got on the board in a big way in the third, taking the lead with four runs in the inning.

VU looked to answer back, getting bases loaded in the third and fourth innings but were unable to push a run across.

Lewis & Clark continued to apply pressure and extend their lead, scoring in the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth innings to pull away with the 8-1 victory.

"It started on the mound for us in game one," VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "But obviously, getting bases loaded in three of the first four innings and we only came away with one run. Our hitters have to do a better job. Plus we only got three hits in the first game. Tip your hat to their two pitchers that threw but at the same time, we've got to do a better job offensively in those key situations. If we score a couple more runs there early, it shifts the momentum of the entire game."

Freshman Logan Medsker (Marshall, Ill.) got the start in game one of the day on the mound, throwing two and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out four.

Freshman Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was the first out of the bullpen, throwing two and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out one.

Sophomore Dawson Blaylock (Eaton, Ohio) surrendered two runs on one hit while striking out one in two and one-third innings of work.

Sophomore Jake Stuteville (Rockport, Ind.) threw the remaining inning and one-third, retiring all four batters he faced.

"Our pitchers just didn't get it done today on the mound in game one," Barney added. "Logan didn't have it and then came out with an injury. I thought Blaylock threw alright. Parnin threw alright to keep the game where it was. But Lewis & Clark did a good job of adding runs and built their lead up."

VU looked to bounce back and close out the day with a win and again got off to a great start with sophomore Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) leading off the first for the Blazers with a double.

Burdette would later come around to score, along with sophomore Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.) on a two-RBI single by freshman Keegan Schlotterbeck (Centerville, Ind.) to give the Blazers an early 2-0 lead.

VU kept the momentum going in the second after Burdette drew a two-out walk, stole second and came around to score on an RBI double by Kobe Bartlett, extending the lead to 3-0.

Lewis & Clark would get on the board in the fourth and cut the deficit down to a single run in the fifth before VU freshman starter Josh McCormick helped swing the momentum back to VU with two big strikeouts to end the sixth inning.

Freshman Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) took over in the seventh and slammed the door on Lewis & Clark, allowing only one base runner as VU picked up the 3-2 victory at Jerry Blemker Field.

"We bounced back in the second game," Barney said. "Got a big hit early by Keegan Schlotterbeck and another RBI hit by Kobe Bartlett to score some guys early."

Josh McCormick looked strong on the mound for the Blazers, matching his longest outing of the season after throwing six innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out a career-high eight batters.

Christian Pinson entered to throw the seventh and closed out the game without allowing a run or a hit, while striking out two as Pinson picks up his second save of the season.

"Josh's first three innings were as dominant as he has been all year," Barney added. "He struggled a little in the fourth and fifth and then gave us a great sixth inning to get the momentum back in our dugout. Then Christian came in and shut the door. Those two freshmen pitched really well. Hopefully our sophomores can step up tomorrow with Hart and Craggs starting."

The Trailblazers will have a short turnaround before coming back to Jerry Blemker Field for the final two games of the four-game conference series tomorrow, April 30. First pitch tomorrow is set for 12 p.m. eastern.

"There is momentum going into tomorrow off of this win," Barney said. "With Xavier Hart on the mound, hopefully he can contain them a little bit like McCormick did today. We have also got to do a good job of jumping out on them early. I think if we can do those things and keep the momentum going, play good defense and have Hart step up and do a good job on the mound, we are going to be in good shape."

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

Lewis & Clark – 004   110   110 – 8

VU (19-26, 7-14) – 100   000   000 – 1

RBI – Long. HBP – Whitehead, Schlotterbeck, Bartlett. SB – Burdette.

GAME TWO

Lewis & Clark – 000   110   0 – 2

VU (20-26, 8-14) – 210   000   x – 3

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Burdette, Bartlett. RBI – Schlotterbeck 2, Bartlett. HBP – Evans, Egger. SB – Evans, Burdette.