VU All-Time hits leader Colin Long to play at IU-Southeast

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University baseball’s All-Time hits leader Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) announced that he will be continuing his baseball career next season at NAIA Indiana University Southeast in New Albany.

“I chose IU-Southeast because the campus was really nice and they have a great culture around their baseball program that I really wanted to be a part of,” Long said.

Long closed out his stellar Trailblazer career by setting a new Vincennes University school record for hits in a career with 173 this past season.

“Being VU’s All-Time hits leader is definitely something that will stick with me for a long time and I will never forget,” Long said. “I couldn’t have done it without the support from my teammates from each year I played and the coaching staff to push me each day to better myself, even when I was struggling. I think having that support really helped me accomplish this record.”

Long finished out his three-year stint with the Blazers with a .337 career batting average, 173 hits, 63 RBIs, 27 doubles, 24 stolen bases and four home runs.

Long looked to save his best for last, driving in three of VU’s four runs in the Trailblazers opening round game vs. Parkland at the Mid-West Athletic Conference tournament in May. Long went two for four at the plate that game, including hitting a ground-rule double.

Long had his best season at the plate in 2022, when he batted an outstanding .392 for the season, including 69 hits, four home runs and 24 RBIs.

Long has been a constant figure in the VU outfield these last three seasons, patrolling center field to the tune of a .977 career fielding percentage.

Long accounted for seven assists in the outfield during his time at VU, including being a part of one double play and twice being named to the MWAC Rawling Gold Glove team in 2022 and 2023.

Long is one of four VU baseball players to announce where they will be playing next season, including catcher Will Egger (Terre Haute, Ind.) (Missouri Baptist), pitcher Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) (U. of Fort Lauderdale) and Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) (Carson-Newman).

This group helped guide the Trailblazers to a 25-33 record this past season, including earning a spot in the 2023 MWAC Conference baseball tournament.

“My favorite part of my time at VU is definitely all of the amazing people I had the opportunity to meet,” Long added. “One of my favorite memories from Vincennes was game four against Lewis & Clark last season.”

“Vincennes University showed me academically what it takes to be a good college student and the law enforcement program was absolutely incredible,” Long said. “Athletically, Vincennes taught me how the classroom comes first and everything about college baseball is a grind. But if you want it, you can achieve many things in the sport and life itself.”

Long will be joining a Grenadier squad coming off of a 33-20 season last year, including earning a spot in the River States Conference Championship game.

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Colin Long on his commitment to Indiana University-Southeast and wishes him good luck next season.