Bowser’s complete game leads Blazers to win to close out weekend

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Baseball team closed out their busy weekend Saturday afternoon at Jerry Blemker Field with a seven inning showdown with North Iowa Area Community College.

The Trailblazers battled back from a slow start as the Blazers extended their winning streak to six games with a 6-4 victory over the Trojans.

NIACC got the scoring started early, plating four runs in the first inning.

Vincennes was able to respond in the bottom half of the first inning however as VU's first five batters reached base safely in the inning.

Sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) and freshman Ty Stultz (Terre Haute, Ind.) got the inning started with back-to-back walks before sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) put the Blazers on the board with an RBI single.

Sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) loaded the bases with another walk and sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) was able to drive in a run on a bases loaded hit by pitch.

The inning continued with freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.) driving in a run on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit to one at 4-3 after the first inning.

The Trailblazers continued their fast start in the second inning, picking up a leadoff double by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.), followed by an RBI single by Bradyn Douglas to even the score at 4-4.

Douglas would come around to score on an RBI double by Nate Montgomery to give the Trailblazers the lead and Ty Stultz would extend the lead by scoring on a groundout by Yancey Edlin, giving Edlin two RBIs in the first two innings of the game as the Blazers took a 6-4 lead.

The Trojans would continue to battle, getting runners in scoring position in three of the final four innings Saturday, but were unable to push a run across.

Vincennes was able to hold on to this lead throughout the later innings and the Trailblazers were able to close out their sixth straight win by the final score of 6-4.

Sophomore JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers and was able to settle in after a tough first inning to go the distance, throwing a seven-inning complete game, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out seven.

The Trailblazers will look to keep this hot start going as the Blazers open the next week of games Monday, March 3 when VU hosts Wabash Valley College in a single nine-inning game at Jerry Blemker Field with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. eastern.

VU will then head on the road Wednesday, March 5 to take on Oakland City JV in Oakland City, Ind. at 4 p.m. eastern before opening Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) play Saturday, March 8 and Sunday March 9 at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill. First pitch Saturday and Sunday is set for 1 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

North Iowa Area – 400   000   0 – 4

VU (8-3) – 330   000   x – 6

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Gross, Montgomery. RBI – Edlin 2, Napier, Montgomery, Andrews. HBP – Stultz, Edlin. SB – Andrews 2, Gross, Stultz.