Trailblazers unable to overcome early deficit in midweek matchup at Frontier

FAIRFIELD, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team hit the road Tuesday evening for another single midweek game, this time heading to Fairfield, Ill. to take on Frontier Community College.

The Blazers played from behind after a pair of early big innings for the Bobcats and came away on the wrong end of a 14-4 final score.

Vincennes looked to be off to an excellent start to begin the game Tuesday evening, with freshman leadoff hitter Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) drawing a walk and sophomore Jack Robinson reaching with a single.

The pair moved up to second and third on a successful sacrifice bunt by freshman Reed Drabant (Columbia, Ill.) before being driven in on a two-RBI single by freshman Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) to give the Blazers an early 2-0 lead.

The Bobcats answered back strong in their first time to bat in the bottom of the inning, scoring seven runs in the first and adding five more runs in the second to take a big 12-2 lead over VU.

Vincennes would keep fighting in the third after Corbin Napier reached after being hit by pitch, followed by a walk by sophomore Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.), who reached base safely in all three plate appearances Tuesday, all three coming as walks.

Napier would come around to score on an RBI single by sophomore Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) to cut the deficit to 12-3.

Vincennes would add another run in the fourth inning after a one out single by sophomore Bryton Griffy (Louisville, Ill.).

Griffy advanced around to third after a pair of wild pitches and would come in to score on a sacrifice fly by Jack Robinson.

Frontier C.C. would get the lead back up to 10 in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs to make it a 14-4 game and held the Blazers scoreless to close out the seven-inning 14-4 victory.

Sophomore Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) got the start on the mound for VU Tuesday and battled through the wind, allowing seven runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Freshman JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) settled in after a tough second inning of work, allowing seven runs on six hits and striking out one in three and one-third innings.

Sophomore Keegan Schlotterbeck (Centerville, Ind.) was called on to pitch the final two innings for the Blazers, retiring all six batters he faced, including recording a pair of strikeouts.

The Trailblazers will look to bounce back this weekend when VU returns to Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) play as Vincennes hosts Danville Area Community College Saturday, March 23 at Jerry Blemker Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. eastern.

The four-game conference series will then shift to Danville, Ill. for the final two games Sunday, March 24, with first pitch Sunday also scheduled for 2 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

VU (9-17, 3-5) – 201   100   0 – 4

Frontier – 750   200   x – 14

VINCENNES HITTING

RBI – Napier 2, Robinson, Whitehead. Sac Bunt – Drabant. Sac Fly – Robinson. SB – Douglas. HBP – Napier.