Eight-run inning propels Trailblazers to conference split with Illinois Central

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team picked up a home-conference split over Illinois Central at Jerry Blemker Field Friday afternoon, dropping game one 6-5 before coming back to win game two in run-rule fashion 12-2.

The Trailblazers struck first in game one after Trent Weiss drove in Garrett Lawson with a double in the third. Brody Ruggles later score on a sac fly off the bat of Peyton Lane to give VU the 2-0 early lead.

Vincennes expanded their lead in the seventh as Landen Freestone led off the inning with a walk. Devon Rodgers entered to pinch run for Freestone and came around to score on a single by Peyton Lane.

Illinois Central answered back strong in the eighth, pushing across six runs to hold a 6-3 lead.

A Trailblazer comeback was put on hold in the bottom half of the eighth as the game was paused by a 90-minute rain delay.

After play resumed the Trailblazers cut the deficit when Rodgers drove in Colin Long.

The comeback looked to pick up steam in the ninth as Peyton Lane led off the inning with a solo home run to put the Blazers within a run.

Vincennes however was not able to tie the game, even after sending the potential winning to the plate as Illinois Central closed out game one 6-5.

Gehrig Tenhumberg got the ball to start game one for the Blazers and last seven and a third innings, giving up one run on five hits and striking out four.

Tenhumberg was relieved by Connor VanLannen and Parker Watts to close out the eighth and Luke Osborn pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Trailblazers scored first again in game two after Macaine Claycomb launched a two-run home run in the first to give VU the early 2-0 lead.

Illinois Central would even the score after a two-run homer of their own in the third.

Vincennes would respond in the bottom half of the third by pushing across eight runs to take a commanding 10-2 lead.

VU wasn't done there though, scoring a run in the fourth to expand the lead to nine runs.

After Trailblazer starter Sam Steimel pitched a scoreless top of the fifth the Blazers were just one run away from a win.

Peyton Lane put himself in scoring position with a one out double and came around to score on an Isaac Lane walk-off single. VU took game two 12-2.

Sam Steimel threw all five innings, giving up two runs on five hits while recording three strikeouts.

"Our backs are against the wall, we basically have to win-out the rest of the weekend to put ourselves in a position where we feel good about going to the conference tournament," VU baseball coach Chris Barney said. "We've still got Spoon River to go through next weekend, but we have to get through this weekend first."

"Our guys bounced back, the problem in the first game was we had three or four chances to score some runs and didn't do it, then waiting until the last few innings to try and do something. Gehrig Tenhumberg did a great job on the mound in game one and Sam Steimel picked it up in game two. Then the bats came alive in game two and we had a lot of guys contribute at the plate."

"The hitters did a great job in game two, they battled and they took the ball the other way when the pitchers were working them soft away. We stepped up. Freestone pinch hit and got a big RBI, we executed on some bunts, we took advantage of their mistakes. Claycomb got 3 RBI's in game two, VanLannen hit a sac fly, Rodgers drew a bases loaded walk, so there were a lot of guys that contributed to the win and that's what it's going to take the rest of the year."

The series now shifts to East Peoria, Ill. for the final two games of the four-game set Monday, May 10. The games were originally scheduled for the day before but were pushed back due to rain in the forecast this weekend. First pitch time Monday is still to be determined at this point.

"We've got to continue to play good defense, we're going to have to do a better job of hitting and we're going to have to get something out of our bullpen," Barney added. "VanLannen will bounce back and start game three on Monday after basically throwing his bullpen in the first game. We've still got Nichols and our bullpen will be rested and ready to go and it's going to take a lot of guys to contribute to get two wins Monday."

GAME ONE

Illinois Central 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 6 0 – 6 9 0

Vincennes (18-27) 0 0 2   0 0 0   1 1 1 – 5 6 0

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Trent Weiss. HR – Peyton Lane. RBI – Trent Weiss, Peyton Lane 3, Devon Rodgers. Runs – Brody Ruggles, Peyton Lane, Colin Long, Garrett Lawson, Devon Rodgers. SB – Brody Ruggles 2, Peyton Lane, Macaine Claycomb. Sac Fly – Peyton Lane.

GAME TWO

Illinois Central 0 0 2   0 0 – 2 5 1

Vincennes (19-27) 2 0 8  1 1  - 12 12 0

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Peyton Lane 2, Max Flock. HR – Macaine Claycomb. RBI – Landen Freestone, Colin Long 2, Peyton Lane, Macaine Claycomb 3, Isaac Lane, Connor VanLannen, Devon Rodgers 2, Ryne Wheeler. Runs – Landen Freestone, Colin Long 2, Peyton Lane 3, Macaine Claycomb 2, Isaac Lane 2, Max Flock, Devon Rodgers. SB – Colin Long. Sac Fly – Connor VanLannen, Ryne Wheeler.