Trailblazers split doubleheader to close out conference weekend

DANVILLE, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team hit the road Sunday afternoon for the final two games of this weekend's four-game Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series with Danville Community College.

The series shifted to Danville, Ill. after the first two games were played yesterday at Jerry Blemker Field.

VU got off to a tough start to the day, falling in game one 10-2 before closing out the weekend strong and taking game two of the day 16-7.

The day got off to a rocky start for the Trailblazers, with Danville getting on the scoreboard in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.

VU would match this run in the second after a leadoff single by sophomore Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.) and a walk by sophomore Keegan Schlotterbeck (Centerville, Ind.).

The pair moved up to second and third on a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore Trevor Newman (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Heyerly would come in to score on a sacrifice fly by freshman Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) to even the score at 1-1.

The Jaguars would regain the lead in the bottom half of the second and add to this lead with three runs in the third, three runs in the fourth and a pair of runs in the fifth to take a 10-1 lead.

Vincennes would get on the board again in the sixth after Blake Heyerly reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a wild pitch.

Danville would hold the Blazers scoreless in the seventh to close out the 10-2 victory in game one of the day.

Sophomore Josh McCormick (Indianapolis, Ind.) got the start in game one for VU, throwing four innings, allowing eight runs, four earned runs, on 10 hits and striking out two.

Sophomore Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) came out of the bullpen to throw the final two innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits.

Vincennes looked to close out the weekend strong and build some momentum in game two and wasted little time getting going.

Freshman Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) led off the game with a single and stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch.

Douglas would score the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Jack Robinson (Mooresville, Ind.) to give VU the early 1-0 lead.

Danville answered back in the bottom of the first to even the game at 1-1 before VU regained the lead in the second after sophomores Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Bryan Kohlmeyer (Paris, Ill.) led off the inning with walks.

Parnin and Kohlmeyer then executed a double steal to get on second and third with Parnin being driven in on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Bryton Griffy (Louisville, Ill.).

Kohlmeyer would score later in the inning on another well executed double steal, this time with Bradyn Douglas to give Vincennes a 3-1 lead.

The Trailblazers continued to add to the lead in the third after sophomore Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.) walked to lead off the inning and Blake Heyerly followed up with a two-run home run, his second of the season.

VU continued to score after a single by Parnin and walks to Schlotterbeck and Griffy loaded the bases for Bradyn Douglas to drive in a run with a walk to give VU a 6-1 lead.

The Jaguars would battle back with a pair of runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to even the game at 6-6.

Vincennes would create more space on the scoreboard in the fifth with a monster seven-run inning.

Highlights from the big inning include another bases loaded walk for Bradyn Douglas, giving him two of his three RBIs on the day, followed by a bases clearing three-RBI double by Jack Robinson, giving him four RBIs in the game.

Robinson would come around to score on a wild pitch, Kade Hinton would reach on a walk and score on a stolen base and an error and Blake Heyerly scored the final run of the inning after reaching on a walk, stealing second and scoring on a wild pitch to put VU ahead 13-6.

Danville Area would get a run back in the sixth but this would be as close as they would get as VU added three insurance runs in the ninth on a fielding error and bases loaded walks for Keegan Schlotterbeck and Bradyn Douglas.

VU held the Jaguars off the scoreboard down the stretch to close out the 16-7 victory and close out the weekend with a big win.

Sophomore Jace Parnin got the start in game two of the day, throwing three innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out four.

Sophomore Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) pitched the fourth, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit and game away with the winning decision.

Freshman Yancey Edlin held things down for the final five innings of work, allowing one run on three hits and striking out one.

The Trailblazers have a bye this coming weekend in the conference schedule but are slated to face off against three Division I opponents next three games, starting Tuesday, March 26 against Olney Central College at 6 p.m. eastern at Jerry Blemker Field.

VU will then host DI No. 8-ranked John A. Logan College Friday, March 29 at Jerry Blemker Field. First pitch Friday is set for 1 p.m. eastern.

The Blazers will then hit the road to begin the following week to take on Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Ill. Wednesday April 3. First pitch for that game is set for 2 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.

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

VU (9-20, 3-8) – 010   001   0 – 2

Danville Area – 113   320   x – 10

VINCENNES HITTING

1B – Heyerly, Parnin. RBI – Edlin. HBP – Clifton, Edlin. Sac Fly – Edlin.

GAME TWO

VU (10-20, 4-8) – 123   070   003 – 16

Danville Area – 102   301   000 – 7

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Robinson. HR – Heyerly. RBI – Robinson 4, Douglas 3, Heyerly 2, Griffy 2, Schlotterbeck. HBP – Schlotterbeck 2, Douglas, Parnin. Sac Fly – Griffy, Robinson. SB – Douglas 3, Parnin 2, Hinton 2, Kohlmeyer 2, Heyerly, Schlotterbeck.