Trailblazers sweep series finale doubleheader at Illinois Central

PEORIA, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference series strong Saturday afternoon at Illinois Central College in Peoria, Ill.

The Blazers took the doubleheader sweep over the Cougars 5-2 and 7-3 to pick up the series win at ICC.

Vincennes got off to a slow start Saturday afternoon with Illinois Central striking first and breaking the scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the third in game one.

VU would get on the board in the fifth after a leadoff walk by sophomore Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) and sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) reached on a fielder's choice.

Johnson came in to score the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) with Gross tying the game later in the inning by scoring on a wild pitch to even the score at 2-2.

VU would take their first lead of the day in the sixth after a leadoff single by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) being hit by pitch.

The pair moved up 90 feet with a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) before scoring on a two-RBI double by sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.).

Edlin would come around to score on a error by Illinois Central College to give the Blazers a 5-2 lead over the host Cougars.

The Trailblazers were able to fend off any late comeback attempts by the Cougars, ending the game defensively with a big double play to give the Blazers the 5-2 victory over Illinois Central College.

Freshman Eastin Whaley (Kokomo, Ind.) got the start for the Trailblazers in game one of the day, going the distance with a seven-inning complete game, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out eight, while only allowing one walk.

Whaley picked up steam as the game went along, facing the minimum over the final three innings to pick up the victory for the Blazers.

Vincennes looked to pick up the series victory and sweep the day in game two but once again found themselves playing from behind early after Illinois Central plated a run in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.

VU would get on the board in a big way to grab their first lead of the game in the fourth with a big five-run inning.

The Blazers opened the inning with the first five batters reaching base safely, with sophomore Corbin Napier scoring the first run of the game for VU on a Cougar error, before Bryce Gross came through with a two-RBI single to put the Blazers on top 3-2.

Bradyn Douglas picked up an RBI in the inning on a groundout and Nate Montgomery drove in the final run of the inning with a big two-out RBI single to give the Blazers a 5-1 lead.

Illinois Central would get a run back in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-2 before the Blazers answered back with a pair in the seventh.

Corbin Napier again led off the inning reaching base after being hit by pitch, followed by Noble Johnson reaching on a fielder's choice to set up a two-RBI single by freshman Evan Doran (Indianapolis, Ind.) to increase the Blazer lead to 7-2.

Vincennes would hold onto this lead down the stretch of the game, with Illinois Central looking to complete a late comeback but were only able to get a run in the ninth as VU closed out the series finale over the Cougars 7-3 to sweep the daily doubleheader and take the four-game conference series over Illinois Central College three games to one.

Freshman Grayson Reichert (Shepherdsville, Ky.) got the start in game two for the Trailblazers, throwing into the sixth inning allowing two runs on four hits and striking out four.

Freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) was the only Trailblazers used out of the bullpen on the day, closing out the final four innings of the game, allowing one run on six hits and striking out three.

The Trailblazers will look to carry this momentum into their next slate of games as the Blazers hit the road Thursday, April 3 to take on Southwestern Illinois College in doubleheader action in Belleville, Ill. First pitch Thursday is set for 2 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes will then return home to Jerry Blemker Field Sunday, April 6 when the Blazers get a doubleheader rematch against the Blue Storm of Southwestern Illinois College, with first pitch Sunday set for 1 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

VU (14-17, 5-10) – 000   023   0 – 5

Illinois Central – 002   000   0 – 2

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Edlin. RBI – Edlin 2, Douglas. HBP – Gricius, Napier. SB – Gross, Napier, Edlin. Sac Fly – Douglas.

GAME TWO

VU (15-17, 6-10) – 000   500   200 – 7

Illinois Central – 100   010   001 – 3

VINCENNES HITTING

RBI – Doran 2, Gross 2, Douglas, Montgomery, Johnson. HBP – Napier. SB – Johnson 2, Doran, Andrews, Edlin. Sac Bunt – Edlin.