Trailblazers drop home opener pitcher’s duel to D-III No. 15 Joliet

VINCENNES, Ind. – After a lengthy break with multiple game cancellations due to weather, the Vincennes University Baseball team returned to the field Friday afternoon for their home opener at Jerry Blemker Field against NJCAA Division III No. 15-ranked Joliet Junior College.

The Trailblazers got off to a slow start and had trouble getting the bats going after not playing a game for over two weeks as the Wolves came away with the 6-0 victory over the host Blazers.

Joliet was the first to crack the scoreboard Monday afternoon, plating a pair of runs in the second and two more in the third to take an early 4-0 lead over VU.

The Trailblazers were unable to get a runner on base until the bottom of the third when the Blazers would get the bases loaded with two out but were unable to push a run across.

Vincennes would get opportunities late in the game with VU leading off the sixth and seventh innings with singles by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) and Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) but those scoring opportunities were ended quickly with a pair of double plays.

Joliet's offense was silenced throughout the middle innings of the game but were able get a pair of insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to stretch their lead to 6-0 going into the bottom of the ninth.

Vincennes would once again look to string together some base runners and get a late comeback, loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth with two outs but were again held off the scoreboard.

VU's last chance attempt in the ninth closed quickly as well after freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) was hit by pitch but was unable to advance past first base as Joliet closed out the 6-0 victory over the Trailblazers.

Offensively, one bright spot on the day did come from the top of the batting order, where leadoff hitter Bradyn Douglas collected two hits and a walk to reach base in three of his four plate appearances, while freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.) followed him in the two-hole with a single and a walk.

Another bright spot on the day for Vincennes came on the mound as sophomore Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.) got the start for VU, throwing four innings and allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three.

Allen then turned the game over to freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) who closed out the final five innings on the mound, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out seven and not allowing a walk in the game.

The Trailblazers will look to bounce back and get back in the win column when VU returns to Jerry Blemker Field Tuesday, Feb. 25 for a split doubleheader starting against Morton College at 11 a.m. eastern, before ending the day with a rematch against D-III No. 15 Joliet J.C. at 4 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

Joliet – 022   000   011 – 6

VU (2-3) – 000   000   000 – 0

VINCENNES HITTING

1B – Douglas 2, Andrews, Napier. HBP – Gross, Gricius. BB – Douglas, Andrews, Fessel.