By Owens Sports Information
Vincennes, IN---Timely hitting, solid defense and a spectacular pitching performance highlighted an opening round, 4-0 win over Vincennes University in the first game of the 2013 NJCAA Region XII, Sub-Regional Baseball Tournament at Jerry Blemker Field in Vincennes, Indiana on Friday morning.
Sophomore right-hander Dane Davis was masterful in limiting the Trailblazers to just three hits in a 70-pitch performance. Davis faced the minimum over the final four innings of the game with the help of a pair of 6-4-3 double plays turned by his defense.
The Express (1-0) gave Davis the only run he would need in the top of the first inning. Center fielder Justin Elder reached on a throwing error to lead off the game. He would advance to third on a single to center by left fielder Logan Shullick and would eventually score on an RBI groundout by first baseman Austin Cowan.
Owens added a pair of runs in the 5th inning on RBI singles by shortstop Nate Manis and Shullick.
The Red and White plated an insurance run in the 6th inning as third baseman A.J. Perez singled home right fielder Ryan Horvath from second.
Davis struck out one and walked three in the win. Vincennes starter Ty Simpson was saddled with the loss. He gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 5-1/3 innings of work. He struck out four and walked three.
Shullick and Perez each had a pair of hits, while Elder scored twice for the Express.
With the win, Owens advances on in the Winner's Bracket and will face the winner of the Cuyahoga/Sinclair matchup. That game will begin at 5:00 p.m.
Notes
The shutout victory for the Express marked only the second time this year that Vincennes has been shutout, while it also marked the second time this year that the Express has shutout an opponent. The other time came with a 2-0 win over Cuyahoga on April 5.
The victory also marked the second consecutive season in which the Express has defeated Vincennes in the opening round of the sub-region tourney. They won 3-2 last year and Davis picked up the win in relief in that game. Coincidentally, Simpson also took the loss in that game.
Lastly, the win gave first year head coach Devin Taylor a win in his first postseason game.