GRANGER, Ind. – The offense was out in full force Friday afternoon, as IU South Bend secured their first conference win of the early season with an 18-6 victory over Trinity International at Rex Weade Stadium.
The Titans (7-11, 1-1 CCAC) combined for 18 runs on 19 hits on the day, with six players recording multiple base hits and all nine starters driving in at least one RBI. Nolan Unger picked up a game-high four hits, going 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, while leadoff hitter Tony Reyes went 3-for-4 with three runs and a pair of RBI in the win. Kole Miller reached base in all five plate appearances, finishing 3-for-3 with a pair of walks.
Trinity International (7-9, 0-2 CCAC) opened with an early lead, scoring twice in the top of the 1st, then adding two more runs in the 2nd for a 4-0 advantage. IU South Bend responded in the bottom of the 2nd, batting around and hanging seven runs on the board on six hits. All seven runs came before the Trojans recorded an out in the inning, highlighted by Reyes’ two-RBI single to left, scoring Unger and Jake Vanderwoude for the 5-4 lead.
The Titans added four more runs in the bottom of the 4th, including Unger’s two-out, two-RBI single to right that brought home Donnie Necas and pinch-runner Nick Banks. Six more runs in the 5th inning including a two-run single from Vanderwoude pushed the IUSB lead to 17-5, allowing the home team to secure the win early on the ten-run rule.
Jaidyn Morris picked up the win in relief, throwing 2.1 innings with two hits and a run allowed.
The Titans are scheduled to close out the three-game set with Trinity International on Saturday afternoon, as they head to Deerfield, Ill. for a doubleheader as the road team. First pitch with the Trojans is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.