Blazers split doubleheader at No. 12 Parkland behind career day by Medsker

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Vincennes University freshman pitcher Logan Medsker (Marshall, Ill.) had a big day Saturday afternoon on the mound, holding the highly ranked Cobras at bay by allowing only two hits over a career-high seven innings.

Medsker's pitching performance in the series finale allowed VU to close out the weekend with a win after falling in game one of the day 10-5 before picking up the 3-2 victory in game two.

The day got off to a slow start at Parkland for the Blazers, with the Cobras getting on the board first in game one of the day.

Parkland plated two runs before VU answered back in the second with an RBI single by freshman Will Egger (Terre Haute, Ind.).

Parkland would get the run back in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead before VU came through with a big rally in the third.

The first eight Trailblazer batters reached base to begin the third inning, including an RBI double by sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.), an run scoring fielder's choice by freshman Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.) and another RBI single by Will Egger as VU took the lead at 4-3.

Parkland quickly grabbed the lead back with a pair of runs in the third and were able to extend this lead with a run in the fifth.

Vincennes would score in the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk by sophomore Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.).

Parkland added some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth and finished out game one to pick up the 10-5 victory over the Trailblazers.

Vincennes had little trouble getting on base in game one of the day, with seven of VU's nine starters reaching base multiple times and all nine reaching base at some point throughout the game.

Freshman Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.) reached base three times and came around to score two runs, while sophomore leadoff hitter Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) set the tone by reaching base four times.

Sophomore Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) got the start in game one of the day, throwing five and one-third innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out seven.

Freshman Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) entered to finish out the sixth inning, throwing the final two-thirds of the sixth, allowing four runs, all unearned, on four hits and striking out one.

Vincennes looked to close out the weekend strong however in the series finale and quickly grabbed the momentum with Ethan Burdette leading off the game with a double and later scoring on a sacrifice fly by Colton Evans.

Logan Medsker held the Cobra hitters off the board early in game two, with Parkland not getting their first baserunner until the third inning and first hit until the fifth inning.

After the Cobras evened the score at 1-1 in the fifth, VU answered back in the sixth to take the lead back after Colton Evans and Kade Hinton led off the inning with singles, followed by an RBI double by Dale Coy. Hinton later came in to score on a wild pitch to give the Blazers a 3-1 lead.

Parkland would get a run back in the seventh but were unable to complete the comeback, even after getting the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth.

VU closed out the game with a line drive double play and picked off a Parkland baserunner to end the game as Vincennes closed out the road portion of their schedule with a 3-2 win over the No. 12-ranked Cobras.

Logan Medsker picked up the winning decision with a strong outing on the mound in game two, allowing two runs, both unearned, on two hits and striking out seven over a career-high seven innings.

Sophomore Caleb Moore (St. Louis, Mo.) was the first out of the pen in the eighth, retiring the only batter he faced on one pitch.

Freshman Aaron Fenn (Fort Wayne, Ind.) came in to get the final two outs of the eighth, allowing two hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Freshman Christian Pinson entered in the ninth to pick up the save without allowing a hit in an inning.

The Trailblazers will return home for the final Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series of the season when VU hosts Spoon River College at Jerry Blemker Field next weekend.

The series will begin on Friday, May 12 with first pitch set for 3 p.m. eastern, before the Blazers return to the field Saturday, May 13 for Sophomore Day. First pitch Saturday is set for 12 p.m. eastern.

GAME ONE

VU (21-30, 9-18) – 013   001   0 – 5

Parkland – 212   014   x – 10

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Evans, Long. RBI – Egger 2, Evans, Coy, Heyerly. HBP – Evans, Schlotterbeck. SB – Egger.

GAME TWO

VU (22-30, 10-18) – 100   002   000 – 3

Parkland – 000   010   100 – 2

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Burdette, Coy. RBI – Evans, Coy. HBP – Whitehead. SF – Evans.