Trailblazers erase six-run deficit to split weekend series with Illinois Central College

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team closed out their weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series with Illinois Central College Saturday afternoon at Jerry Blemker Field.

Vincennes took game one of the day after falling behind 10-4 in the sixth inning before rallying back to win 11-10. ICC took game two of the day to close out the weekend 9-1.

Illinois Central grabbed the momentum early to begin game one, scoring four runs in the first inning.

Vincennes would respond back in the third with a four-run inning of their own, with freshman Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) coming through with an RBI single and sophomore Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.) getting a two-RBI single.

The Cougars would grab the lead back with a run in the fourth, four runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth to take a 10-4 lead over the Trailblazers.

Vincennes launched a late-innings comeback, kicked off by a double by freshman Will Egger (Terre Haute, Ind.) to begin the sixth.

Sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) drove in a run on a ground out, before sophomores Peyton Lane (New Paris, Ohio), Connor VanLannen (Clinton, Ind.) and Dale Coy each came through with RBI doubles.

Freshman Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.) closed out the scoring in the sixth with an RBI single to make it a one-run game.

After a scoreless top of the inning by sophomore Luke Osborn (Perrysville, Ind.), Vincennes got back to work at the plate, with freshman Ethan Burdette leading off the inning with a double. His fourth hit of the game.

Burdette would tie the game at 10-10 on an RBI single by Peyton Lane and after a fielding error and an intentional walk, Dale Coy stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out.

Coy came through in the clutch, hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly to score Lane and give the Trailblazers the 11-10 win.

Freshman Nick Kapostasy (Cincinnati, Ohio) got the start on the mound for the Blazers, throwing an inning and a third, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three.

Freshman Cauy Motsinger (Salem, Ind.) was the first out of the pen and threw two solid innings on the mound, surrendering one run on one hit and striking out five batters.

Sophomore Josiah Sizemore (Cambridge City, Ind.) notched a pair of punch outs in two-thirds of an inning, while sophomores Braedon Nichols (Sullivan, Ind.) and Luke Osborn each struck out one batter.

Freshman Eli Steimel (Sullivan, Ind.) pitched a hitless inning as well for the Trailblazers.

“Defensively, in the first game, obviously we gave them a ton of outs that had to be made on fly balls that just didn’t get caught,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “That allowed them to jump out in front and take advantage and do some damage. Credit to our guys, they battled their butts off and came back and got a win out of that deal.”

“Our guys did a great job of battling at the plate and guys did what they were capable of,” Barney added. “Burdette got one or two bunt hits and he is swinging the bat extremely well. Peyton had a good game and Dale has had a solid performance this weekend. He came up and stepped up with a walk-off sac fly in the seventh.”