Trailblazers baseball falls late in series finale at Cleveland State

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Vincennes University baseball team got off to a great start at the plate, scoring five runs in the first two innings but were unable to maintain this hot start as VU fell 9-5 in the final game of Vincennes’ three-game weekend set at Cleveland State Community College.

Vincennes looked to get on the board early and often Saturday afternoon, with the first three batters all reaching base, including an RBI single by sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) and a two-RBI single by sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) to give VU an early 3-0 lead.

The Cougars answered back in the bottom of the first, evening the game and getting all three runs back to end the first inning of play tied 3-3.

The Trailblazers broke this tie quickly in the top of the second with a two-run home run by sophomore Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.), his first home run of his collegiate career.

This would, however, be about the extent of VU’s offense Saturday. Cleveland State would go on to tie the game in the third and take the lead with a run in the fourth.

Cleveland State extended their lead with three runs in the sixth and were able to hold on late as VU fell by the final score of 9-5.

“Kaden Elliott walked a couple of times and ended up two for three with a single and a home run,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “Colin Long got his single in the first which got him a couple of RBI’s. Colton got his RBI single and Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) got a single. That’s about it for the hits.”

“Offensively, we just have to sustain that and continue to build on our lead,” Barney added. “Cleveland State did a good job of coming in with their bullpen and shut us down.”

Freshman Josh McCormick (Indianapolis, Ind.) got the start on the mound Saturday and lasted three innings, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out one.

Sophomore Jake Stuteville (Rockport, Ind.) entered in relief and threw two and one-third innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out one.

Freshman Logan Medsker (Marshall, Ill.) had a good day on the mound in his VU debut, throwing two and one-third shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Freshman Jack Robinson (Mooresville, Ind.) got in the game to get some experience on the mound and retired the only batter he faced.

“Logan did a great job,” Barney said. “He threw two good innings for us and really shut the door on them. He threw really well and dominated on the mound. Then we got Jack Robinson on the dirt so he could get a feel for being out there. That’s the positive thing that comes out of this three-game series is using 12 pitchers this weekend and were able to get some guys on the dirt that needed to get some experience and see what it’s like. Especially as we get ready to go next weekend with four games. Everybody has to get used to what it’s going to be like for our four-game Conference weekends.”