VINCENNES, Ind. – In the second game of a back-to-back with Frontier Community College, the Vincennes University Trailblazers baseball team picked up the 2-1 win at Jerry Blemker Field Sunday afternoon.
VU pitchers Kestler Harbuck (Brooksville, Fla.) and Luke Osborn (Perrysville, Ind.) held the Bobcats to just two hits in the nine-inning contest as VU came away with the win over the NJCAA Division I opponent.
The Trailblazers got on the board early as sophomore Connor VanLannen (Clinton, Ind.) hit an RBI double in the bottom of the first to score sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) and give VU the early 1-0 lead.
Frontier would be unable to get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when the Bobcats evened the game at 1-1.
Vincennes answered back in the seventh after a leadoff single by sophomore Josiah Sizemore (Cambridge City, Ind.), followed by a stolen base and an error that put Sizemore on third.
The sophomore outfielder would later score on a two-out single by freshman Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) as VU regained a 2-1 lead.
Sophomore Luke Osborn entered out of the bullpen to close out the game for the Trailblazers and picked up the win on the mound as Frontier was unable to get a baserunner in the final two innings of play.
"It's like we talked about yesterday, Kestler Harbuck came out and gave us a quality start and the bullpen did exactly what they are supposed to do," VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "Luke Osborn comes in and gets a good win and earned it. Even though Harbuck probably deserved it, but it was tough luck with our offense not being able to do a whole lot."
"VanLannen steps up with a big RBI in the first and Burdette picks up and RBI scoring Sizemore after a stolen base," Barney added. "Two was enough today. We played really good defense for the most part. We have to clean up a few things base running, but other than that I'm extremely happy with the win. Our guys responded well today."
Vincennes got another excellent pitching performance out of starter Kestler Harbuck, who threw six and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out four.
Harbuck would carry a no-hitter into the fifth inning during his outing Sunday.
Freshman Eli Steimel (Sullivan, Ind.) entered out of the bullpen in the seventh and walked the only batter he faced.
Luke Osborn closed out the game on the mound, throwing two and one-third innings without allowing a hit and striking out two batters.
Vincennes accounted for nine hits at the plate on the day, including a three for four day at the dish by Ethan Burdette and two hits and a pair of walks by sophomore Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.).
"Pitching was great today, defense was good and we had enough clutch hits to get us through it," Barney said. "We've still got to get some guys in the middle of our order going like they had been, we've just struggled this past week. Hopefully we can get them back on track either tomorrow or Tuesday."
The Trailblazers will continue their stretch of playing five games in six days tomorrow, Monday, April 11, when VU heads to Olney, Ill. to take on Olney Central College. First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 3 p.m. eastern.
Vincennes will then return home to Jerry Blemker Field Tuesday, April 12 when VU hosts Kaskaskia College out of Centralia, Ill. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6 p.m. eastern.
"It's going to be up to our pitching to get us going and get us headed in the right direction," Barney added. "Just like it was today, some guys have to step up that haven't thrown a whole lot and get us through it and give us a chance. We'll have some guys ready to go in the bullpen, so hopefully they can give us a quality start and hopefully we can get the middle of the order going again and continue to play good defense."
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
Frontier 000 001 000 – 1
VU (15-16, 6-6) – 100 000 10x – 2
VINCENNES HITTING
2B – VanLannen, Evans. RBI – Burdette, VanLannen. SB – Long, Burdette, Sizemore. HBP – Clark, Evans.
