Trailblazers begin tough five-game stretch with big road win over Oakland City JV

OAKLAND CITY, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team began a stretch of five games in six days against four different teams Thursday afternoon by picking up a big 12-5 road win at Oakland City University.

Vincennes got the scoring started early, plating three runs in the first on four-straight singles by freshman Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.), sophomores Connor VanLannen (Clinton, Ind.), Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.) and freshman Jordan Roth (Delphi, Ind.).

Oakland City would rally back to even the score with a run in the first and two in the second, before Vincennes again grabbed the lead when VanLannen got a one-out single in the third and came around to score on a wild pitch.

The Mighty Oaks got the run back immediately in the bottom half of the inning and VU responded with a two-out single by freshman Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.), followed by a two-run home run by sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) to give the Blazers a 6-4 lead.

Vincennes would add to their lead in the fifth on an RBI double by freshman Nick Kapostasy (Cincinnati, Ohio).

The Trailblazers were not done there though, as Vincennes came back with a five-run sixth inning, aided by an RBI single by freshman Mahkai Pelzer (Douglasville, Ga.) and a two-run home run by Dale Coy to give VU a 12-4 advantage.

Oakland City would attempt to battle back in the later innings, but only managed one run in the eighth as Vincennes came away with the 12-5 road win.

The Trailblazers used this game to get some pitchers some experience on the mound, using nine different arms during the game.

Sophomore Camden Greer (Boonville, Ind.) came away as the winning pitcher after throwing the third inning.

Freshman Cauy Motsinger (Salem, Ind.) entered the game in the eighth inning to get the third out and did so on one pitch.

Motsinger returned to the mound to close out the game in the ninth by striking out two batters in the inning.

The Vincennes pitching staff allowed only three hits all game and combined to punch out 12 Oakland City batters.

"We rolled the whole bullpen out there and just gave guys a chance to get on the bump today," VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "We were just looking to give guys a chance to get ready to roll when we get back to Conference games next weekend."

"Obviously, offensively we did a great job," Barney added. "We came out and put up three runs in the first. Then Colin Long comes up with a two-out home run and we had some other guys pick it up, like Dale Coy coming through with three RBI's today. Lots of guys contributed and lots of guys got some experience, which will hopefully get us going for Saturday and Sunday against Frontier, as well as Monday and Tuesday."

The Trailblazers got it done at the plate all game, with 10 VU batters getting hits in the game, including four from Colin Long, two from Colton Evans, two from Connor VanLannen, who exited the game after the third inning and three hits from Dale Coy.

"They have been doing a good job for us all year," Barney said. "They continue to do it. Obviously we try to find the four or five best guys in there at the top and middle of the order and they are all swinging it well right now and they have all contributed."

"Jordan Roth got an RBI today, Kapostasy got a double as well," Barney added. "So lots of guys contributed today with lots of guys getting RBI's and we able to come out of here the 12-5 win."

The Trailblazers will look to continue this momentum through the rest of this five-game stretch as VU prepares to head to Fairfield, Ill. Saturday, April 9 when Vincennes takes on Frontier Community College at 3 p.m. eastern.

VU will then play host the Bobcats Sunday, April 10 at Jerry Blemker Field, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. easter.

Vincennes will then head back on the road Monday, April 11 when VU takes on Olney Central College in Olney, Ill. at 3 p.m. eastern.

VU will then close out the long stretch of games at home Tuesday, April 12 when the Trailblazers play host to Kaskaskia College, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. eastern.

"We are going to bounce back," Barney said. "We put this stretch of games together on our Conference bye weekend so we can have another five games and try to get some guys in. We are still playing without a few guys that are hurt right now, which just presents opportunities for other guys to step up. Hopefully that leads us into the Conference weekend next weekend against Heartland on Friday and Saturday strong."

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VU (14-15, 6-6)  301   215   000 – 12

Oakland City JV 121   000   010 – 5

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Kapostasy, Clark, Evans. HR – Long, Coy. RBI – Long 2, Pelzer, Coy 3, Roth, Kapostasy. SB – Evans 2.