VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University baseball sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) announced last week his plans to continue his athletic and academic career next season at NAIA Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky.
“Obviously the scholarships Brescia was able to give me was a big factor in committing,” Gross said. “But compared to other schools I was talking to, it just seemed like the right fit for me. Their new Head Coach is building a culture there and has a mentality that I love and it showed this season as they won over 20 games for the first time in about a decade.”
Gross has served this season as the Trailblazers’ everyday shortstop as well as a reliable late innings relief pitcher out of the bullpen.
Gross has played in 56 games so far in the Spring 2025 season, recording 36 hits and driving in 28 runs at the plate, including four home runs and 11 doubles.
Gross has a two season 0.335 on-base percentage in 88 games with the Blazers.
Gross has also been a key late innings contributor on the mound, throwing 11 and one-third innings this season and recording 11 strikeouts in 13 appearances.
In his two seasons at Vincennes Gross has 28 total appearances and thrown 32 total innings, including 32 strikeouts.
Gross was also a standout in the classroom at Vincennes University, earning Academic All-Conference and Academic All-American honors last season and earning the President’s Male Academic Excellence Award at the 2025 Willie Awards.
Gross has helped the Blazers to a 27-32 record this season, including helping the Blazers secure their first Region Championship since moving to Region 24 in 2016 and first District Championship appearance since 2014.
“My favorite experience while being at VU was actually our very first weekend this spring at Cleveland State,” Gross said. “After a tough year last season for our team, starting off the year playing that level of baseball was a great sign of a good season coming for us. I also hit my first collegiate home run in my very first at bat there, which I will never forget.”
Gross will be joining a Bearcats squad coming off of a 23-19 season in 2015, including an 11-13 record in River States Conference play under Head Coach Casey Hamilton.
Gross and the Trailblazers will continue their postseason run this weekend when the Blazers head to the Central District Championships hosted by East Central College in Union, Mo. May 15 through May 17.
“I couldn’t thank my coaches here at VU enough for the work they have put in to better me within the sport of baseball,” Gross added. “The coaching staff here held me to a certain level of work ethic that reflected in every aspect of life. One of those areas was in the classroom, which ultimately allowed me to have the grades to get more scholarship money from potential schools. Through a great staff and environment, the jump to a four-year school will be much easier because of my time at Vincennes.”
The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Bryce Gross on his commitment to continuing his education at Brescia University and wishes him good luck as he continues his baseball career next season.
