Vincennes, Ind. - A day that may have started with a loss ultimately ended up one of historic nature for the ICC baseball program (10-18, 6-14). After the first game saw the Cougars drop a late 10-4 lead in the form of an 11-10 walkoff, it would be a near shutout in game two that would secure a 9-1 win. The latter secured the 500th win of Head Coach Brett Kelley's ICC career. 

Game 1 | Vincennes 11, ICC COUGARS 10
The Cougar bats got off to a red-hot start. In fact, four of the first five batters of the game reached, with the first run coming when Josh Heyder was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. ICC's offense was able to collect a run off a hit in the first, as Brody Reed grounded a single into left field for an early 4-0 lead. 

Vincennes would quickly counter in the third with four runs of their own to tie the game.

At that point, it seemed ICC would be running away with the game, scoring six runs unanswered. Max Jones launched a home run over the right field fence to score Zach Otten and Coltin Quagliano and give the Cougars a 9-4 lead through the top of the fifth. Travis Lutz added on by scoring on a fielder's choice in the sixth for a 10-4 score.

The Trailblazers were hungry. With one last shot at the plate without the need of a walkoff, they would storm to the tune of a five-run sixth to reach back within 10-9 of the visiting Cougars. 

ICC had the bases loaded in the seventh, but Vincennes shut the door on a pop out. It would be up to fate. 

A leadoff double got even closer to the plate on a sacrifice bunt. Then an RBI single, followed by an error and a walk. The hosts' hero would be freshman Dale Coy, who got a fly ball to a deep enough part of the outfield, scoring the game-winning run and setting the 11-10 final score.

Game 2 | ICC COUGARS 9, Vincennes 1
Brett Kelley would turn to the freshman Joe Nelan in game two on the bump. Nelan got just what the Cougars needed, allowing a mere one run on an RBI single in the sixth. 

Nelan was getting quite the run support as well, starting with Quagliano lining a double into right field, scoring Reed and Jackson Powell. 

The aforementioned RBI single from the hosts had them still within reach of ICC, facing a 4-1 deficit after six innings. 

Yet the Cougars were far from satisfied with their four runs. Coach Kelley's 500th win would come in convincing fashion. 

Chase Ulrich sent an RBI single into right to score Reed. Quagliano doubled - Ulrich and Otten scored. The final run of the game would cross off the bat of Evan Pogioli, whose RBI single scored both Quagliano and Jones to set the 9-1 final score. 

Nelan would close the door in the bottom half of the 7th to lock down the series draw. 

He Said It - Coach Kelley on the Vincennes Series:
"Great effort all weekend. Some things didn't go our way in games one (yesterday) and game three (this afternoon), but we gave ourselves a chance each game. I was proud of how we handled adversity and how the players rallied around each other."

What's Next?
The Cougars have a few days off from games before returning to Thome Field next Tuesday, April 26th, for a single game against Southeastern Iowa. First pitch is set for 4:00 PM. 

Game Three Box Score
Game Four Box Score