VU baseball falls in home conference double-header to Heartland

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Trailblazer baseball team continued their MWAC conference schedule Friday afternoon, hosting Heartland Community College in the first two games of a four-game weekend set.

Vincennes fell in both games after some excellent pitching performances on both sides, dropping game one, 3-1 and game two 7-0.

VU was the first time to score in game one, when Peyton Lane singled in Max Flock in the third inning to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead.

Gehrig Tenhumberg was holding up his end on the bump midway through game one, only allowing four hits and striking out five batters through the first five innings.

Heartland managed to string together some hits in the sixth and took the lead back from VU, 3-1.

The lead would hold as the Trailblazers were unable to bring home any more runs as the Hawks took game one, 3-1.

Tenhumberg pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out five batters and allowing three walks.

Conner VanLannen pitched the final three innings in relief and surrendered two hits and got a pair of strike outs.

Game two was much like game one, with the two teams locked in a 0-0 stalemate after the first four innings of play.

Heartland broke the tie in the fifth inning, pushing across a pair of runs, then added five more insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

The Hawks took game two 7-0 and the claimed the Friday sweep at Jerry Blemker Field.

"We have to do a better job offensively executing," VU baseball coach Chris Barney said. "We didn't execute on a bunt situation. You're only going to get one or two of those a game against teams number one and two starters and we didn't make it happen. We popped up on a hit-and-run, we just did some things that we just haven't been able to get through it yet."

"You have to tip your hat to Heartland, their pitchers did a great job, especially their first pitcher in game one. Game two we imploded on the mound in the seventh with a hit batsmen, a walk and a few other things that didn't go our way, so we've got to do a better job defensively and offensively to make sure that we get ready to play on Sunday."

Cooper Thacker toed the rubber for VU to start game two and threw five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out five.

"Gehrig and Cooper did really well. They kept us in the game, they gave us an opportunity to be in the game and they gave us a chance to win these games and our offense just has to do a better job. Tip your hats to Gehrig and Cooper for stepping up and competing like they are in our number one and number two slots."

Parker Watts pitched an inning-plus in relief, giving up three runs on three hits.

Cody Swimm pitched in the seventh, getting the first two outs of the inning before allowing two runs on three hits. Swimm did record a strikeout.

Luke Osborn finished out the seventh, getting the first batter he faced to fly out to left field on the first pitch.

The four-game conference series now shift to Normal, Ill. where VU will take on Heartland Sunday, April 18 at the all-turf Corn Crib. First pitch Sunday is set for 2 p.m. eastern.

"We have to see some resiliency and some opportunities for us to bounce back because Heartland is a much better club at home. Heartland came in to today with a 2-10 record on the road and they're a much better club at home and they are feeling good about themselves after today, competing with us. Sam Steimel and Braedon Nichols are going to have to step up and our offense and defense are going to have to play well."

GAME ONE

Heartland  0 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 0 – 3 9 1

VU (16-16)  0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0 – 1 9 2

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Isaac Lane. RBI – Peyton Lane.

GAME TWO

Heartland  0 0 0   0 2 0   5 – 7 10 0

VU (16-17)  0 0 0   0 0 0  0 – 0 5 1

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Peyton Lane. SB – Trent Weiss.