Blazers fall in final tune up before MWAC Conference opener weekend

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team headed back to Jerry Blemker Field Wednesday afternoon for their final game before the start of the Mid-West Athletic Conference schedule this weekend against Lake Land College from Mattoon Ill.

The Blazers got off to a great start, opening the scoring in the first after sophomore Jack Robinson (Mooresville, Ind.) reached base on a dropped third strike.

Redshirt freshman (Louisville, Ill.) Holden Clifton would follow that with a single before freshman Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) grounded into a fielder's choice and sophomore Brandon Juarez (Evansville, Ind.) drove in Robinson with an RBI single to give VU an early 1-0 lead.

Lake Land would get on the board in the third to take their first lead of the game at 3-1 before Vincennes answered back in the bottom of the third after Robinson, Clifton and Montgomery led off the inning reaching base safely.

Robinson would come around to score his second run of the game on a wild pitch as VU cut the Lakers lead down to 3-2.

Lake Land would pad their lead in the middle innings with a pair of runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth to increase their lead to 6-2.

Vincennes would look to rally late after freshman Brody Fessel (DePauw, Ind.), sophomore Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.) and freshman Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) loaded the bases in the eighth.

Jack Robinson would push a run across on an RBI groundout to cut the Laker lead to 6-3.

VU would again get the bases loaded in the ninth after freshman Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) and sophomores Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) and Keegan Schlotterbeck (Centerville, Ind.) led off the ninth with three straight singles.

The Blazers came up short however as Vincennes was unable to get another run across and fell to the Lakers by the final score of 6-3.

"We didn't get it done at the plate," VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "We had opportunities throughout the game to come up with some big two out hits or some big hits in crucial situations and that's the difference in the ball game. We didn't do it and we didn't play great defensively. So when you start putting all of that together it comes out to an 'L', unfortunately. We were competitive but it's a result we don't want."

Vincennes put eight players on the mound Wednesday as the pitching rotation rounds into shape as we head into Conference play this weekend.

VU got a big time start on the mound by Jack Robinson who allowed one base runner in two innings of shutout, hitless baseball. Robinson also picked up a pair of strikeouts as well.

Freshman Alex Wandersee (Centerville, Ind.) was the first out of the pen, throwing two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit and striking out one.

Sophomore Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) threw an inning and two-thirds, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out two.

Freshman Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) allowed one unearned run in two innings of work while striking out three in his outing.

Sophomore Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) struck out one in the eighth inning before turning the game over to freshman Colton Okes (Evansville, Ind.) who retired the only two batters he faced and freshman JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) closed out the ninth striking out the only batter he faced.

"Obviously Jack Robinson started it off for us on the mound and put up two zeros," Barney added. "I thought Gross threw really well for us. Max came out and got the first guy out that he faced and got us out of a jam. It's hard to sustain it. There was an error to start the next inning and we just can't let things snowball."

"I thought Colton Okes threw really well," Barney said. "Christian Pinson threw really well. JD Bowser threw really well. So there are some positives to take out of that but at the same time, we have to get it done before the horses are out of the barn."

The Trailblazers will now turn their attention to the start of the Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) schedule this weekend.

VU will hit the road this weekend to face off against Lewis & Clark Community College Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9. First pitch both days is scheduled for 1 p.m. eastern.

Scheduled dates and times for all VU baseball games are subject to change. Be sure to follow 'Vincennes University Athletics' on Facebook, X, or Instagram to stay up to date on any and all VU baseball schedule changes.

"We've got a ways to improve before we can start thinking about being really competitive," Barney added. "We've got to get it done on the mound. We've got to come up with two out hits and we've got to play good defense. Our bullpen has got to give us innings and keep us in games and not let things snowball when we have to go to them during games. We've got some work to be done. We're a very capable club. But we've got to go out and prove it and the results in the end will either prove it or not."

BOX SCORE

Lake Land – 003    021    000 – 6

VU (6-10) – 101    000   010 – 3

VINCENNES HITTING

RBI – Robinson, Juarez. BB – Drabant 2, Douglas, Robinson, Montgomery, Juarez, Fessel. HBP – Heyerly. SB – Montgomery, Drabant.