Trailblazers drop conference doubleheader at Parkland College

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their four-game weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference series Saturday afternoon against No. 14-ranked Parkland College.

The Trailblazers dropped the pair of games to close out the series, falling in game one to the Cobras 11-1 before falling in game two 12-2.

Vincennes got the day started in game one, breaking onto the scoreboard in the second inning after sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) reached on an error to lead off the inning.

Edlin would later steal third and come in to score on a groundout put in play by sophomore Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) to give the Blazers the early 1-0 lead.

Parkland College would respond in their half of the inning, scoring three runs in the second and three more runs in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead over VU.

The Blazers continued to battle down the stretch, getting a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning and runners on second and third in the fifth, but were unable to turn those baserunners into runs.

Parkland put the game away in the sixth with five runs to give the Cobras the 11-1 victory in game one of the day.

Freshman Eastin Whaley (Kokomo, Ind.) got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers in game one, throwing into the fourth inning allowing five runs on three hits and striking out two in the game.

Whaley then turned it over to freshman Jakob Hoyer (Georgetown, Ind.) who threw two solid innings, allowing one run on two hits.

The Blazers looked to bounce back and get the series split with the Cobras in the series finale but quickly found themselves playing from behind after Parkland plated a pair of runs in the first inning.

VU would respond in the second after a lead off walk by Yancey Edlin and a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.), followed by a walk by sophomore Damon Kay (Spencer, Ind.) and a single by sophomore Canaan Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) to load the bases.

Vincennes would get on the scoreboard with an RBI single by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.), followed by a run scoring fielder's choice put in play by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.) to even the score at 2-2.

Parkland would again answer back in the bottom half of the inning, plating three runs to regain the lead at 5-2.

Parkland would add on to this lead in the fourth with a run before putting the game away again in the fifth with a big six run inning to take game two of the day 12-2.

Freshman Grayson Reichert (Shepherdsville, Ky.) got the start in game two of the day, throwing two and one-third innings, allowing five runs, four earned runs on four hits and striking out three.

Freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) was the first out of the bullpen for the Blazers, throwing one and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out two.

The Trailblazers will look to bounce back and get back in the win column when the Blazers hit the road next week to take on Wabash Valley College Wednesday, March 26 in Mt. Carmel, Ill., with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes will then hit the road over the weekend for another Mid-West Athletic Conference series, taking on Illinois Central College in Peoria, Ill. Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. eastern and Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. eastern.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

VU (12-14, 3-8) – 010   000 – 1

Parkland – 030   305 – 11

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Gricius. RBI – Johnson. HBP – Gricius. SB – Johnson. Edlin.

GAME TWO

VU (12-15, 3-9) – 020   00 – 2

Parkland – 230   16 – 12

VINCENNES HITTING

RBI – Douglas, Andrews. HBP – Montgomery. SB – Edlin.