Late rally gives Trailblazers extra-innings walk-off win over Lincoln Trail

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team bounced back strong after a tough conference weekend by picking up a walk-off win over NJCAA Division I Lincoln Trail College 5-4 Tuesday night in 10 innings.

The Statesmen got on the board early, scoring a run in the top of the first.

Vincennes responded in the second to even the game after a single by freshman Jordan Roth (Delphi, Ind.) and an RBI single by sophomore Josiah Sizemore (Cambridge City, Ind.).

Lincoln Trail came back in the third to score a pair of runs on back-to-back two-out bloop singles to take a 3-1 lead.

Lincoln Trail would add to their lead with a run in the fifth.

Vincennes began to rally back late when sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) led off the eighth with a double. Long would later score on a wild pitch.

Vincennes loaded the bases in the eighth on three-straight walks by sophomore Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.), Roth and freshman Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.)

Freshman Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) entered the game as a pinch hitter and came through with a two-RBI double to score Coy and Roth, with Elliott, representing the go-ahead run, getting tagged out at the plate as Vincennes tied the game at 4-4.

The Trailblazers would get a runner on third in the ninth but were unable to bring the run in as the game was headed to extra innings.

Vincennes would end the top of the 10th on a double play to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the 10th, Vincennes completed their comeback on back-to-back-to-back singles by Coy, Roth and a walk-off single by Elliott to give the Trailblazers the 5-4 win.

“We battled and had guys step up,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “Colton Evans stepped up with a big, bases loaded-two out double down the right field line. Then later in the game Kaden Elliott, hopefully this is going to get him back on track here. He had some really good at bats today, he hit the ball hard to center field for a lineout and then obviously, at the end of the game came up with the big hit.”

“Hats off to our guys and we took advantage of their mistakes and opportunities that they gave us with some walks,” Barney added. “We were able to execute on a bunt and do some things that allowed us to get a chance to win and then we stepped up and won.”