VU Baseball picks up another big home win over Volunteer State

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team returned to Jerry Blemker Field Wednesday afternoon for another home showdown, this time playing host to Volunteer State Community College from Gallatin, Tenn.

The Trailblazers grabbed an early lead and were able to ride the momentum to their second win over an NJCAA Division I team in the past three days, winning over the Pioneers 12-5.

The Pioneers were the first to break onto the scoreboard, getting a run in the first to take an early 1-0 lead.

Vincennes would respond back in their first time at bat in the bottom of the first, getting a leadoff double by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.), followed by a single by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and an RBI single by freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) to even the score at 1-1.

VU continued the inning and grabbed their first lead of the afternoon with a two-RBI single by sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) to put the Blazers on top 3-1.

Volunteer State would answer back in the fourth to get a pair of runs and even the score at 3-3.

The Trailblazers regained the lead in the fifth after the first six VU batters in the inning reached base safely.

The inning started with a four pitch walk by sophomore Brody Fessel (DePauw, Ind.), followed by a single by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) and an RBI single by Bradyn Douglas.

The Blazers added to their lead with a two-RBI single by Nate Montgomery and a successful double steal to give the Blazers a 7-3 lead.

Volunteer State would again answer back, getting a pair of runs in the seventh to cut the deficit in half at 7-5.

VU helped put the game away in the eighth with five big insurance runs in the inning.

Vincennes opened the eighth inning with three straight singles by Carter Gricius, Corbin Napier and an RBI single by Jakob Hoyer (Georgetown, Ind.).

The Trailblazers added more runs with a two RBI single by Bryce Gross and a two RBI single by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.), giving Vincennes a commanding 12-5 lead heading into the ninth.

Vincennes was able to hold the Pioneers off the scoreboard in the ninth, only allowing one base runner in the inning as VU closed out the 12-5 victory over Volunteer State.

"This was truly a team win," VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "Our pitching staff did a good job. We used eight guys to make sure we are ready for the weekend. A lot of guys stepped up at the plate today, RBI from Douglas, two RBIs from Andrews, two RBIs by Montgomery another RBI from Gricius. Two RBIs by Napier, an RBI by Hoyer and two RBIs by Gross hitting in the nine hole. We were able to get contributions from seven or eight different hitters throughout the lineup as well as eight pitchers on the mound, so this is a pretty good team win."

VU sophomore JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers, throwing on a pitch limit to finish one-third of an inning, allowing one run on three hits and striking out one.

Freshman Wyatt Burris (Farmland, Ind.) was the first Blazer out of the bullpen, throwing three and one-third innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

Sophomore Bryce Gross took over on the mound from his shortstop position to throw one and one-third innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.

Freshman Kory Kingsbury (Evansville, Ind.) came on to get the first out of the sixth inning before turning the game over to freshman Ty Stultz (Terre Haute, Ind.) who promptly got the Pioneers to ground into an inning ending double play.

Stultz finished the day throwing one and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs, one earned on one hit and striking out two.

Freshman Kyle Holder (Mount Vernon, Ind.) threw one and one-third inning, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Freshman Ryan Rayburn (Columbus, Ind.) pitched in the ninth, retiring the only batter he faced before Jakob Hoyer came on to get the final out of the game for the Trailblazers.

"All of the guys that pitched in relief today did a really good job," Barney added. "I think almost all of them got the first guy they faced out and that's one of our big things coming out of the bullpen. We were able to stretch it out a bit with some guys. We had some guys in class today that were going to throw early but got here late so we had to throw them later than I originally wanted."

"Everyone, from Wyatt Burris, Stultz, Gross, Kingsbury, Holder, Rayburn and Hoyer all did a nice job," Barney said. "Rayburn comes in in the ninth innings and get the lefty out and then Jakob Hoyer comes in and was able to actually get two outs but we made an error on one but he did a nice job."

The Trailblazers will look to keep this momentum going as they head into another weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series when VU hosts Spoon River College at Jerry Blemker Field Saturday, April 26 and Sunday April 27. First pitch for both days is set for 12 p.m. eastern.

"It's confidence," Barney said. "Hopefully playing well and feeling good about themselves. We've talked about two things now for the rest of the season, play hard and have fun and that's what we've got to do. We're looking to get at least three wins, maybe even four this weekend hopefully. If we play well we are going to have a good chance of doing that. But you've got to play well and pitch well and it's a team effort."

BOX SCORE

Volunteer State – 100   200   200 – 5

VU (18-28, 6-18) – 300   040   05x – 12

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Douglas. RBI – Andrews 2, Montgomery 2, Napier 2, Gross 2, Douglas, Gricius, Hoyer. HBP – Johnson. SB – Douglas 2, Gross, Gricius, Montgomery.