Big inning gives Trailblazers series win at Lewis & Clark

GODFREY, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out the opening weekend of Mid-West Athletic Conference play Sunday afternoon in style, falling in game one 5-3 before taking game two at Lewis & Clark Community College 12-1 thanks to a big eight-run second inning.

Vincennes got off to a bit of a rocky start Sunday afternoon in game one of the day, with Lewis & Clark getting on the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning.

VU would answer back however in the second inning after freshman Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) reached on a hit by pitch and moved up to second on a wild pitch, sophomore Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) drove him in on an RBI double to even the score at 1-1.

Parnin would later come around to score on a dropped third strike and throwing error, putting the Blazers on top 2-1.

Vincennes would add to this lead in a big way in the third inning with sophomore Jack Robinson (Mooresville, Ind.) leading off the inning with a solo home run to increase the VU lead to 3-1.

The Trailblazers continued to ride the hot hand on the mound in freshman Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.) who faced the minimum in the third, fourth and fifth innings before falling victim to back-to-back home runs for Lewis & Clark in the sixth inning.

Lewis & Clark completely shifted the game in the bottom of the 6th, scoring four runs in the inning and taking all momentum with a 5-3 lead.

Vincennes looked to create some two-out magic in the seventh inning after freshman Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) walked and Jack Robinson hit a single, but were unable to push a run across as Lewis & Clark took game one of the day over VU 5-3.

Carson Allen got the start on the mound for the Trailblazers in game one and threw five-plus very solid innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out four.

Jace Parnin again was asked to step on the mound from his defensive position, finishing out the sixth inning, allowing two runs on two hits in an inning of work, while striking out one.

The Trailblazers then looked to end the weekend on a high note in the series finale and quickly grabbed all of the momentum back with a massive eight-run second inning.

The first 10 batters in the inning reached base safely for the Trailblazers in the second, including an RBI single by sophomore Keegan Schlotterbeck (Centerville, Ind.), a bases loaded hit by pitch by sophomore Bryton Griffy (Louisville, Ill.) and a big bases clearing, three-RBI double by Jack Robinson.

The inning continued with sophomore Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.) driving in Robinson on an RBI double of his own before later scoring on a wild pitch.

The final run of the inning crossed on a bases loaded walk by Schlotterbeck, giving him two RBIs in the inning and putting the Blazers firmly ahead 8-0.

VU wasn't settled there though, coming back to bat in the third inning and coming up with another run on an RBI single by redshirt freshman Holden Clifton (Louisville, Ill.) to increase the lead to 9-0.

Lewis & Clark would get on the board in the fourth but were only able to push across a single run in the inning.

Vincennes helped put the game away in the seventh after Bryton Griffy reached on a single and Jack Robinson picked up his third hit of the game with a double, Holden Clifton got his third hit of the game in a big three-run home run, his second of the season and third of his career, to put VU ahead 12-1.

Freshman Colton Okes (Evansville, Ind.) sealed the win in the bottom half of the inning by retiring the Lewis & Clark batters in order and giving VU the 12-1 run-rule victory and the MWAC series win.

Freshman Alex Wandersee (Centerville, Ind.) got the start in game two and threw really well in his first collegiate start, throwing three-plus innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out two, while also picking up his first collegiate winning decision.

Sophomore Christian Pinson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) was the first out of the pen for VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney, throwing two innings and only allowing one hit.

Colton Okes entered to finish out the final two innings, facing the minimum six batters and striking out one to seal the Trailblazers victory.

The Blazers will hit the road again to begin their next week of action, heading to nearby Olney Central College for a single nine inning game Tuesday, March 12 at 2 p.m. eastern.

The Trailblazers will then return to the Mid-West Athletic Conference schedule, hosting Illinois Central College Saturday, March 16 and Sunday March 17 at Jerry Blemker Field.

First pitch Saturday is set for 1 p.m. eastern and first pitch Sunday is scheduled for 12 p.m. eastern.

Scheduled dates and times for all VU baseball games are subject to change. Be sure to follow 'Vincennes University Athletics' on Facebook, X, or Instagram to stay up to date on any and all VU baseball schedule changes.

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

VU (8-11, 2-1) – 021    000    0 – 3

Lewis & Clark – 100    004   x – 5

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Whitehead, Parnin. HR – Robinson. RBI – Robinson, Parnin. HBP – Napier, Clifton, Robinson. SB – Whitehead.

GAME TWO

VU (9-11, 3-1) – 081   000   3 – 12

Lewis & Clark – 000    100   0 – 1

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Robinson 2, Hinton. HR – Clifton. RBI – Clifton 4, Robinson 3, Schlotterbeck 2, Hinton, Griffy. HBP – Griffy, Juarez.