GRANGER, Ind. – Sophomore pitcher Payton Carney led IU South Bend in their response in a doubleheader on Monday afternoon, as the Titans split the CCAC twinbill with Calumet thanks to a 4-0 victory over the Crimson Wave in game two at Rex Weade Stadium.
Carney threw a complete game shutout, working around three hits and two walks while striking out six, recording just the second 9-inning complete game shutout in program history and the first since 2016.
No member of the Crimson Wave (7-15, 2-4 CCAC) reached second base throughout the game, as the Titan defense recorded two double plays to keep any scoring threat off the basepaths. IU South Bend (9-13, 3-3 CCAC) took the lead in the bottom of the 1st as Nolan Unger singled and pinch runner Coby Campbell stole second. After a fielder’s choice moved Campbell to third, a wild pitch brought home the sophomore for the early 1-0 lead.
The Titans doubled their lead in the 4th inning after Evan Allen’s leadoff single and a double down the right field line from Donnie Necas. Allen would score on the next at-bat, as Reese Gallup drove in the run.
With the 2-0 lead late in the game the Titans secured a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th, as a two-out fielding error lead to back-to-back base hits and a two-RBI single up the middle for Reyes, scoring Colin Mack and Jake VanderWoude.
In the first game of the day, the Titans’ two-run 1st inning was matched by Calumet in the top of the 2nd, and both sides were held scoreless until a late-inning error gave IUSB the lead. With two-outs in the bottom of the 6th, pinch runner Sam Kido scored to give the Titans a 3-2 advantage, but the visitors would rally back with four runs in the top of the 7th to take the lead for good.
IU South Bend will now prepare for a weekend trip to Davenport, and a three-game series at St. Ambrose. The series kicks off on Friday afternoon, with first pitch on Friday, March 25 scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET. A doubleheader is scheduled to wrap up the series on Saturday, March 26.
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