FAIRFIELD, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers are taking advantage of their Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) bye week with four straight games against NJCAA Division I opponents, beginning with a two-game set with Frontier Community College.
VU traveled to Fairfield, Ill. Saturday afternoon to take part in a single nine-inning game as part of a two-game home-and-home series with the Bobcats.
The host Bobcats got off to a hot start, scoring four runs in the first inning, including getting three runs in the first three pitches of the game.
VU would begin their comeback in the fourth when freshman Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) led off the inning with a single and came around to score on an RBI single by sophomore Connor VanLannen (Clinton, Ind.).
The Trailblazers would get another run in the fifth after freshman Will Egger (Terre Haute, Ind.) reached base on an error and would score on an RBI single by Burdette to cut the Frontier lead to 4-2.
The Bobcats would increase their lead with a run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh.
Vincennes would again cut the deficit in the eighth with a two-out, two-run home run by VanLannen.
The Trailblazers would try to complete the comeback in the ninth inning with a double by freshman Nick Kapostasy (Cincinnati, Ohio).
Kapostasy would score when the next batter, freshman Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.) drove him in with an RBI single.
Vincennes would be unable to complete the comeback however as Frontier finished off the 7-5 win over VU.
"It was a rough start, the first three hitters got on base on three pitches, with the third guy hitting a home run to put them up 3-0," VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. "They got a base hit later in the inning to score again, so they got four runs in the first. But to our credit it finished as a 7-5 game and our guys battled back."
"Later on in the game Kapostasy comes through with a big hit in the ninth and Elliott scores him with an RBI single," Barney added. "We get the tying run to the plate with Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) who has done it all year for us and it just, unfortunately, didn't work out today."
VanLannen got the start on the mound and settled in after a rough first inning to throw four innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five.
VanLannen also came through at the plate, with a pair of hits, including a home run and three RBI's on the day.
"Connor did a good job of separating the pitching and hitting parts of his game today," Barney said. "And really he did a pretty nice job on the mound after the first three hitters. He threw four innings and we got him out at around 70-75 pitches, which we wanted to do to make sure he was ready for next weekend. But he settled in and did a good job."
"He separated at the plate, Ethan Burdette had two big hits and an RBI. Elliott came off the bench in the ninth and got an RBI," Barney added. "The middle part of our order has done it all year for us, just unfortunately today it didn't happen for us."
Sophomore Braedon Nichols (Sullivan, Ind.) was the first out of the bullpen for Vincennes Saturday, as Nichols lasted two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on three hits and punching out two batters.
Nick Kapostasy entered to close out the seventh and threw the final one and one-third innings without allowing a hit and striking out three.
"Nichols did a good job on the mound," Barney said. "He left one pitch up that their guy hit for a two-run homer. Kapostasy did a great job coming in relief of Nichols. We used three guys on the mound and those two did a good job."
Vincennes will return home to Jerry Blemker Field tomorrow, Sunday, April 10, when Vincennes hosts Frontier CC. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. eastern.
The Trailblazers will continue their stretch of games Monday, April 11 when VU makes the short trip to Olney, Ill. to face Olney Central at 3 p.m. eastern.
The four-game Division I stretch will close Tuesday, April 12 when Vincennes hosts Kaskaskia College at Jerry Blemker Field. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6 p.m. eastern.
"We played decent defense today, we've got to make all of the plays and keep them to 27 outs tomorrow," Barney said. "Kestler Harbuck (Brooksville, Fla.) will start tomorrow. Kestler is going to need to give us a quality start on the mound and get us to the fifth or sixth so we can turn it over to some guys out of the bullpen."
"Hopefully the middle part of our order will get back on track and do what they have done all year for us," Barney said. "Those are the things we are looking for tomorrow; quality start, middle part of the order continuing to hit and play really good defense with giving them only 27 outs."
VINCENNES BOX SCORE
VU (14-16, 6-6) 000 110 021 – 5
Frontier CC 400 001 20x – 7
VINCENNES HITTING
2B – Kapostasy. HR – VanLannen. RBI – Burdette, VanLannen 3, Elliott.