VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers returned to Jerry Blemker Field Tuesday night for a single game against Olney Central College and were able to score early and often to come away with a big 16-12 victory over the Blue Knights.
The Blazers got off to a quick start Tuesday night after Olney Central scored a pair in the first, VU answered back with six runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
Eight of the first nine VU batters reached base safely and the Blazers were able to score on an RBI single by sophomore Brandon Juarez (Evansville, Ind.), a walk pitch and back-to-back RBI singles by freshmen Reed Drabant (Columbia, Ill.) and Jaydon Bradbury (Terre Haute, Ind.).
Olney Central would get a run back in the third, which VU again answered back with another big inning in the bottom of the third.
VU got the first two runners on with leadoff walks by sophomore Bryton Griffy and Reed Drabant, followed by a fielder's choice by Jaydon Bradbury and a big two-RBI double by freshman Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.).
VU continued to add to their lead in the inning with an RBI single by sophomore Jack Robinson (Mooresville, Ind.), a bases loaded hit by pitch by sophomore Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.) and a run scoring fielder's choice put in play by sophomore Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) to give VU a commanding 11-3 lead.
The Blue Knights would come storming back in the fourth with a big nine-run inning to take a 12-11 lead.
VU would get the run back in the bottom of the fourth and even the score after Jaydon Bradbury reached on an error and scored on a fielder's choice put in play by sophomore Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
VU would regain the lead in the seventh on a pinch hit RBI single by redshirt freshman Holden Clifton (Louisville, Ill.) and an RBI single by freshman Brody Fessel (DePauw, Ind.). Fessel would come around to score on a throwing error to give VU a 15-12 lead.
The Trailblazers would add an insurance run in the eighth after Blake Heyerly hit a triple and was driven in on a pinch hit sacrifice fly by freshman Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.).
Sophomore Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) was called on to close out the ninth and did so by striking out the side to give the Blazers the 16-12 victory.
Sophomore Jack Robinson got the start against Olney Central Tuesday, throwing three and one-third innings, allowing eight runs, six earned, on eight hits and striking out one.
Freshman JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) continues to be a strong presence in the bullpen for Vincennes, throwing four and one-third innings of scoreless baseball, allowing three hits and striking out two.
Sophomore Max Lines was called on to pitch the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out three in his inning of work.
The Trailblazers head into the weekend on a bye week from Conference play but have filled their weekend with a tough single game against NJCAA Division I No. 17-ranked John A. Logan College.
VU will host the Volunteers at Jerry Blemker Field Friday, March 29, with first pitch set for 1 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
Olney Central – 201 900 000 – 12
VU (11-20, 4-8) – 605 100 31x – 16
VINCENNES HITTING
2B – Douglas. 3B – Heyerly. RBI – Douglas 2, Parnin 2, Robinson, Hinton, Heyerly, Juarez, Napier, Drabant, Clifton, Bradbury, Fessel. Sac Fly – Napier. SB – Parnin 2, Griffy, Whitehead, Bradbury, Drabant, Robinson. HBP – Heyerly, Robinson.