Trailblazers split the day and advance at MWAC Conference Tournament

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team opened postseason play Thursday afternoon at the 2025 Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) Poll B Tournament hosted by Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill.

The Trailblazers opened the tournament against host Lincoln Land Community College and fell to the Loggers 9-2 before bouncing back in the night game to stave off elimination by winning over Danville Area Community College 7-1.

Lincoln Land got on the board first to open the Conference tournament, plating a run in the second to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Trailblazers would answer back to grab their first lead of the day in the third after sophomore Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) led off the inning with a single, followed by a double by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.).

Vincennes would even the score with a sacrifice fly by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) and take a 2-1 lead with a two-out RBI single by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.).

The VU lead would hold for most of the game before the Loggers would get their offense going in the sixth to score three runs and take a 4-2 lead.

The game was then delayed due to rain for over an hour and when play resumed the Loggers offense kept striking, scoring four runs in the seventh and adding an additional run in the eighth to pull away late and take game one of the day 9-2 over the Trailblazers.

Sophomore Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.) got the start on the mound in game one for VU, throwing five and one-third innings, allowing four runs, three earned on eight hits and striking out two.

The Blazers then turned the game over to freshman Jacob Allen (Vincennes, Ind.) who finished the sixth, allowing one hit in two-thirds of an inning but was unable to continue after the rain delay.

Freshmen Grayson Reichert (Shepherdsville, Ky.) and Kyle Holder (Mount Vernon, Ind.) each threw an inning of relief, with Reichert retiring the side in the eighth on just 13 pitches and Holder allowing one run on two hits in his inning of work.

"Tough situation, Carson Allen gave us a chance to battle and kept us in the game for six innings," VU Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "Then we made a change and Jacob Allen came in, got us out of a jam and then the rain delayed us. Then we had to make another move to another pitcher and unfortunately Rayburn just didn't have it today, giving up three hits and one of those being a grand slam to really break the game open."

"But I thought our guys did a good job," Barney added. "Holder and Reichert came in at the end and did a good job. Gave us an inning a piece and both of those guys should be able to bounce back tomorrow if necessary or for Saturday."

The Trailblazers looked to bounce back and hold off elimination when VU capped off the opening day of the conference tournament against Danville Area Community College.

Vincennes was able to get the bats going early, opening the game strong with four runs in the first, taking advantage of a pair of Jaguar errors.

VU opened the bottom of the first with a leadoff double by Bradyn Douglas, followed by walks by Jevan Andrews and sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.).

Vincennes was able to add runs on a pair of fielding errors put in play by sophomores Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Brody Fessel (DePauw, Ind.) and a bases loaded walk by freshman Evan Doran (Indianapolis, Ind.).

The Trailblazers would add to this early lead in the second after back to back singles to open the inning by Bradyn Douglas and Jevan Andrews, Douglas would come in to score on a successful delayed double steal to put the Blazers on top early 5-0.

Danville Area would get on the board in the fifth, scoring a run and cutting the VU lead to 5-1, which the Blazers immediately answered in the sixth with a pair of runs of their own.

Vincennes once again was able to take advantage of Danville fielding errors, scoring a run on an RBI single by Jevan Andrews, his second of three hits on the day and an RBI single by Nate Montgomery, his third time reaching base in the game increasing the VU lead to 7-1.

The Trailblazer pitching staff was able to hold the Jaguar hitters at bay down the stretch as Vincennes picks up the 7-1 victory and advances in the elimination bracket to play again Friday afternoon.

Freshman Eastin Whaley (Kokomo, Ind.) got the start in game two and threw six strong innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out four.

Freshman Ty Stultz (Terre Haute, Ind.) followed Whaley and finished off the final three innings of work, allowing two hits and striking out two in three scoreless innings.

"Eastin Whaley threw pretty well," Barney said. "He had to battle some walks but he battled his way through a couple of jams and gave us six quality innings. Ty Stultz comes in and does a nice job."

"We took advantage of their pitching with some walks and some early errors in the outfield that allowed us to put up a four-spot early and another run in the second," Barney added. "Then later in the game we came up with some big hits. I thought we swung it well. We had different guys with multiple hit games. Bradyn Douglas had three hits in the game, Andrews had three hits, Montgomery had an RBI hit and two walks, Napier had a double and barreled up three balls. Doran came up with a big hit and had an RBI walk. The top six guys in our order did a pretty good job. Bryce Gross also swung it really well, hit three barrels and has nothing to show for it."

The Trailblazers will look to ride this momentum into their next game tomorrow, Friday May 9 where they will play the loser of the first game of the day between Parkland College and host Lincoln Land Community College.

The Blazers will take the field again at 3 p.m. eastern.

"We feel good about it," Barney said. "We've got JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) on the mound tomorrow, who has been very consistent for us this year and now it's time for him to step up and give us six or seven quality innings and keep us in the game. We've also got a few guys in the bullpen we can turn it over to and we feel good about that. But we are going to have to swing it well and play really good defense against either team, whether it's Parkland or Lincoln Land."

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

VU (23-32, 11-22) – 002   000   000 – 2

Lincoln Land – 010   003   41x – 9

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Gross. RBI – Douglas, Andrews. HBP – Gricius 2, Johnson. Sac Fly – Douglas.

GAME TWO

Danville Area – 000   010   000 – 1

VU (24-32, 12-22) – 410   002   00x – 7

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Douglas, Napier. RBI – Andrews, Montgomery, Doran. SB – Douglas, Andrews.