Ruggles walk-off pushes Trailblazers past Olney Central in offensive showdown

VINCENNES, Ind – In the final game of a four-game set for the Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team, VU hosted Olney Central for the second time in three days in a game that featured 31 runs.

The came down to the final at bat when freshman Brody Ruggles came through with a walk-off single to give the Blazers the 16-15 victory and their third win of the weekend.

Olney Central got the offensive showcase started in the first inning, opening the Sunday afternoon game with four runs in the first.

Vincennes responded after a lead-off Colin Long double. Long would come around to score on a sacrifice fly by Trent Weiss.

Vincennes would even the score in the second on a two-RBI triple by Long, who would score on another sac fly by Weiss to even the score at 4-all.

Vincennes would score two more runs in the third and three more in the fourth to take a normally commanding 9-6 lead over the Blue Knights.

Olney Central would answer back with four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to take the lead back at 13-9.

VU narrowed the deficit after an RBI double by Ryan Bartley was followed by a two-RBI single by Ryne Wheeler made the score 13-12.

OCC scored two more in the seventh before the Trailblazers started another comeback attempt.

VU scored two in the eighth off a pinch hit single by Macaine Claycomb to head to the ninth down one.

Isaac Lane got the ninth started with a double, followed by a Devin Rodgers single and a Garrett Lawson hit by pitch loaded the bases.

Ross Kirkland brought the first run in on a single, followed by a Brody Ruggles RBI single brought in the winning run to give the Trailblazers the 16-15 win and improve their season record to 8-3.

"Our guys battled and battled and battled," VU baseball coach Chris Barney said. "We weren't playing well defensively to begin this game, we made some changes, with 18 guys getting the chance to hit today and try to play some defense. The key to this one was our guys stayed composed no matter what happened and they kept battling and we found a way to win."

"Our hitters just did a great job. When you talk about Brody Ruggles getting his first at bat towards the end of the game and comes up with the game winner and Claycomb comes off the bench to get a big two-RBI hit. We just battled throughout the day, finding a way to get hits and score runs. This was a total and complete team effort today and I'm extremely proud of these guys," Barney added.

VU started Breadon Nichols on the mound. Cody Swimm, Parker Watts, Luke Osborn and Blade Pittman all pitched in relief before Bailey Elliott came in in the ninth to get win. Elliott pitched one inning and struck out two.

The Trailblazers will return to action Tuesday, March 9 as VU travels to Mt. Carmel, Ill. to take on D-I No. 1-ranked Wabash Valley. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. eastern.

"What we have to do at Wabash Valley is just play really good baseball and limit our mistakes," Barney said. "If we can play and execute on the offensive side and we can get something out of the pitching staff, you never know how your chances are. But if you make mistakes or walk guys against the No. 1 team in the country, your chances diminish greatly of coming away with a win, so we're going to have to play flawless baseball, pitch really well and come up with some timely hitting."

Olney Central 4 0 0  2 4 3  2 0 0 – 15  12  1

Vincennes (8-3)  1 3 2   3 0 3  0 2 2 – 16 14 5

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Colin Long, Isaac Lane, Ryan Bartley, Ryne Wheeler. 3B – Colin Long. RBI – Colin Long 2, Trent Weiss 2, Connor VanLannen 2, Ryan Bartley, Ryne Wheeler, Brody Ruggles, Ross Kirkland, Garrett Lawson, Macaine Claycomb 2. Sac Fly – Trent Weiss 2, Ryan Bartley.

SATURDAY LINE SCORES

South Suburban  0 0 0  0 0 – 0 3 1

Vincennes (7-2)  0 9 0  2 x – 11 6 0

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Isaac Lane. HR – Macaine Claycomb. RBI – Peyton Lane 2, Isaac Lane, Macaine Claycomb 3, Devon Rodgers 2. SB – Colin Long, Macaine Claycomb.

Rend Lake  1 0 0  0 0 3  8 – 12 10 3

VU (7-3)  1 0 0  0 0 2 2 – 5