GALLATIN, Tenn. – Believe it or not, it’s baseball season at Vincennes University and the Trailblazers began their 2024 campaign Saturday afternoon in Gallatin, Tenn. with a single, nine-inning showdown with the Pioneers of Volunteer State Community College.
The Trailblazers offense got off to a slow start but got an immediate burst from sophomore Dylan Ecken (Louisville, Ky.) who came through with a three-run home run and a two-RBI double in his first two at bats for the Trailblazers.
VU would go on to hold the Pioneers at bay on the mound, with the VU pitching staff allowing only one hit and recording 16 strikeouts on the game as VU came away with the 7-2 season opener victory.
The Vincennes baseball season got off to a slow start with VU allowing the Pioneers to load the bases in the first inning by allowing two walks and a hit by pitch and later allowing VSCC to score two in the bottom of the first on a throwing error.
Volunteer State’s starting pitcher held the Trailblazers hitless through four innings, but when the game turned to the bullpen the Blazers jumped, with redshirt freshman Holden Clifton (Louisville, Ill.) recording the first hit of the season on a leadoff single.
Sophomore Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) later reached on a fielder’s choice, followed by a single by sophomore Bryton Griffy (Louisville, Ill.) to set the stage for a two out, pinch hit three-run home run by sophomore Dylan Ecken to put the Blazers on top 3-2.
The Blazers would add to their lead in the seventh after another single by Jace Parnin, who reached base three times in the game, was followed up by a single by Bryton Griffy.
Dylan Ecken again came through for the Trailblazers, plating two on a two-RBI double, giving him five RBIs in two plate appearances.
Ecken would later score on a throwing error as the Blazers held a 6-2 lead after seven innings.
VU added another insurance run in the eighth after a leadoff walk by sophomore Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
Hinton would advance to second on an error on a pick off attempt and come around to score on an RBI single by Bryton Griffy, his third hit of the game.
The VU pitching staff had the Pioneer hitters guessing all game as freshman Kaleb Marrs (Terre Haute, Ind.) closed out the final three innings, picking up a save in his first collegiate outing.
Vincennes University used a good number of arms in Saturday’s game, with sophomore Josh McCormick (Indianapolis, Ind.), who threw an inning and two-thirds, allowing two runs, both unearned and striking out four.
Sophomore Logan Medsker (Marshall, Ill.) was the first out of the pen for VU Head Coach Chris Barney, with Medsker throwing two and one-third innings, allowing no hits and striking out six, including striking out the side in the bottom of the fourth to pick up the first winning decision of the season.
VU then turned to sophomore Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) who allowed one hit in one inning of work.
Freshman Alex Wandersee (Centerville, Ind.) got the ball in the sixth inning, throwing a clean, one-two-three inning and striking out two in his collegiate debut.
Freshman Kaleb Marrs closed out the show, throwing three innings to pick up the save, facing 10 batters over his three innings of work and striking out four.
The Trailblazers will look to carry this early season momentum into their next set of games next weekend when the Blazers head back down to Tennessee to take on the Cougars of Cleveland State Community College Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11.
The Blazers are scheduled to begin this three-game set in Cleveland, Tenn. Saturday, Feb. 10 with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. eastern, with the two teams returning for game three Sunday Feb. 11 at 12 p.m. eastern.
