NORMAL, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series Tuesday afternoon against the defending National Champion Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill.
The Blazers unfortunately came up short in the final two games of this four-game series, falling 7-0 and 12-4 in Tuesday's doubleheader.
Vincennes fell behind early in game one of the day to the highly rated Hawks, surrendering a run in each of the first three innings to trail 3-0.
Heartland would continue to add on to their lead with three more runs in the fifth and another run in the sixth.
The VU offense was held at bay all game with a second inning single by freshman Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and a single by sophomore Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) were the only hits for the Blazers in game one of the day.
Sophomore Bryton Griffy (Louisville, Ill.) would later reach base after being hit by pitch in the sixth giving VU their third baserunner of the morning.
The Hawks pitcher found a way to keep the Blazers off the scoreboard in game one, finishing off the seven-inning shutout and giving Heartland the 7-0 victory.
Freshman Alex Wandersee (Centerville, Ind.) got the start in game one of the day for Vincennes, throwing five innings, allowing seven runs, six earned on nine hits and striking out one.
Sophomore Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) came in to pitch the sixth inning and was able to retire the side without allowing a hit.
The Trailblazers looked to bounce back and close out the series on a positive note in game two of the day and VU wasted little time putting game one behind them.
Sophomore Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) led off the series finale with a double and later came around to score on an RBI single by sophomore Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.).
Heyerly would also come around to score in the inning on an RBI double by Jace Parnin, giving VU an early 2-0 lead.
Heartland immediately answered in the bottom half of the first inning, getting those two runs back to even the game and taking the lead in the second with a big five-run inning to lead 7-2.
The Hawks added to this lead with runs in the fourth and fifth to lead the Blazers 9-2.
Vincennes would not go away quietly however as VU led off the seventh inning with sophomore Bryan Kohlmeyer (Paris, Ill.) drawing a walk and freshman Damon Kay (Spencer, Ind.) being hit by pitch.
Freshman Reed Drabant (Columbia, Ill.) came in to pinch run for Kay and move up 90 feet on a successful sacrifice bunt by freshman Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) to put runners on second and third with only one out.
Freshman Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) came through at the dish for the Blazers later in the seventh, picking up a big two-out two-run single to cut the Heartland lead to 9-4.
After a scoreless bottom of the seventh, the Blazers looked to do more damage and continue the late comeback in the eighth, loading the bases after back-to-back singles by sophomore Trevor Newman (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and freshman Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) and Reed Drabant being hit by pitch.
Unfortunately the Blazers were unable to push across a run in the inning and the Hawks would go on the walk it off in the bottom of the eighth with three runs to give Heartland the 12-4 victory over VU.
Sophomore Josh McCormick (Indianapolis, Ind.) got the start on the mound in game two for VU, throwing four innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and striking out two.
Sophomore Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) was the first out of the bullpen for VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney, allowing one run on four hits and striking out one in two and two-thirds innings of work.
Jace Parnin stepped on the mound after playing most of the game at second base to throw two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit and striking out two.
The Trailblazers will look to get back in the win column this weekend when the Blazers return home to Jerry Blemker Field Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 for another MWAC Conference series.
VU will play host to No. 15-ranked Lincoln Land Community College this weekend, with first pitch Saturday and Sunday scheduled for 12 p.m. eastern.
BOX SCORE
GAME ONE
VU (11-25, 4-11) – 000 000 0 – 0
Heartland – 111 310 x – 7
VINCENNES HITTING
HBP – Griffy. SB – Parnin.
GAME TWO
VU (11-26, 4-12) – 200 000 20 – 4
Heartland – 250 110 03 – 12
VINCENNES HITTING
2B – Whitehead, Parnin. RBI – Napier 2, Heyerly, Parnin. HBP – Kay, Drabant. Sac Bunt – Gross.