Allen’s complete game gives Trailblazers doubleheader split at Cleveland State C.C.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Vincennes University baseball team returned to the diamond Saturday afternoon for games two and three of their four-game weekend series at Cleveland State Community College in Tennessee.

The Trailblazers got the doubleheader started off great with a 5-3 victory in game one behind a seven-inning complete game by sophomore pitcher Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.) before falling in game two of the day 3-2 to the host Cougars.

Game one of the day did not get off to the best of starts for the Trailblazers as Cleveland State got on the scoreboard early with two runs in the first.

Vincennes was able to get the bats going in the third and even the score after sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) reached on a single, followed by a walk for freshman Jaret Phillips (Jeffersonville, Ind.).

A walk by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) loaded the bases for sophomore first baseman Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) who came through with a two-RBI single to even the score at 2-2.

The Cougars would get a run back in the bottom of the third to regain the lead but the Blazers would not go away, getting their first lead of the game in the fifth.

Freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.) got the inning going with a one-out walk, followed by a single by Jaret Phillips and an RBI double by Nate Montgomery.

Phillips would come around to score on a groundout by Corbin Napier, giving him three RBIs in the game and freshman Kaden McKinney (Vincennes, Ind.) kept the scoring going with an RBI single to put the Blazers ahead 5-3.

Sophomore pitcher Carson Allen took care of business from there, retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced as the Trailblazers closed out their first win of the season by the final score of 5-3.

Carson Allen got the start for the Trailblazers in game one of the day, throwing a seven inning complete game, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out six with no walks allowed.

The Blazers looked to keep this momentum going in game two of the day and were able to get the bats going early.

VU opened the game with back-to-back singles by Bradyn Douglas and Jevan Andrews followed by a fielder's choice by Corbin Napier.

Douglas would come in to score the first run of the game for the Blazers on a throwing error and Napier would later give Vincennes an early 2-0 lead by scoring on a passed ball.

Cleveland State would answer back however, evening the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the third inning.

Vincennes had opportunities to add to their lead throughout the game, getting the leadoff hitter on base in four of the seven innings played but were unable to convert those early baserunners into runs after the first inning.

Cleveland State would break the tie in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly to put the Cougars on top 3-2.

Vincennes came to bat in the seventh and looked to extend the game with a one-out single by freshman Jakob Hoyer (Georgetown, Ind.) but were unable to move the tying run into scoring position as Cleveland State closed out the 3-2 win over Vincennes in game two of the day.

Sophomore JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) got the start for Vincennes in game two of the day, throwing four and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out six.

Sophomore Colton Okes (Evansville, Ind.) pitched an inning and one-third in relief for the Trailblazers, allowing one run on one hit and striking out one, including working himself out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth.

The Trailblazers will look to close out the weekend series on a high note when Vincennes returns to the field Sunday, Feb. 9 for the series finale with Cleveland State C.C.

This game will be a single nine-inning game with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

VU (1-1) – 002   030   0 – 5

Cleveland State – 201   000   0 – 3

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Montgomery. RBI – Napier 3, Montgomery, McKinney.

GAME TWO

VU (1-2) – 200   000   0 – 2

Cleveland State – 002    001   x – 3

VINCENNES HITTING

HBP – Johnson. SB – Napier. Sac Bunt – Andrews, Kay.