WHITING, Ind. – The Indiana University South Bend Baseball (13-23, 9-11 CCAC) team concluded their CCAC season series with Calumet College of St. Joseph (6-19, 3-13) Tuesday, winning both games of the doubleheader and and sweeping the series. IUSB won game one 10-6 fueled by a four run ninth inning, and took game two 7-2 in thanks to great pitching and two big innings late in the game.
Game 1 (W 10-6)
The Titans got off to a good start taking an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a wild pitch that scored Braedon Leathed and an RBI single from Kaleb Farnham. CCSJ inched their way back with a single run in the bottom of the second inning to get the game with one, but the Titans responded with a run of their own in the top of third inning on a Kaleb Farnham solo home run. Once again CCSJ clawed back tying the game with two runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two RBI single. Lucas Brown hit a two RBI double in the fifth inning to give the Titans a 5-3 lead, but CCSJ kept fighting scoring two runs of their own to tie the game again in the bottom half of the inning at 5-5. Josiah Nelson hit an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to put the Titans in front 6-5 once again. IUSB broke the game open in the top of the ninth inning scoring four runs on a pair of RBI hit by pitch’s from Kaleb Farnham and Gabe Cortez, an RBI walk from Clint Goodman, and an Evan Fortson RBI sacrifice fly to go ahead 10-5. CCSJ pushed a run across with two outs in the ninth, but Jack Kienzle ended the CCSJ threat giving the Titans a 10-6 win in game one of the doubleheader. Kaleb Farnham led the offense going two-for-four with three RBI’s, a home run, and three runs scored. On the mound the Titans had a bullpen game with Adam Amodei throwing the first two innings giving up one run, one earned, on two hits and one strikeout. Peyton Ring threw two innings giving up two runs on three hits and three strikeouts. Josh Vis picked up the win late in the game in his two innings of work giving up two runs on four hits and one strikeout. Jack Kienzle threw the final inning giving up one run one hit and one strikeout.
Game 2 (W 7-2)
After a back and forth game to start the day, game two was a pitcher’s duel until the final three innings. Both teams were held scoreless through first six innings of play with there only being six hits combined between both teams. In the seventh inning Clint Goodman woke up the Titan offense with a solo home run to right field to start the inning. The Titans ended up scoring three runs in the inning, one more on a CCSJ error and a Kaleb Farnham RBI sacrifice fly to give the Titans a 3-0 lead. IUSB extended their lead with a four run eighth inning surged by a Braedon Leathed two out RBI single and a Jack Ryan two RBI home run to right field. CCSJ notched two runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning on two RBI ground outs to make it a 7-2 ballgame, but the Titan defense held them there for the rest of the game to sweep the doubleheader and season series. Jack Ryan and Braedon each had two RBI’s for the Titan offense, while Gabe Cortez and Nick Turner were the only Titans to have a multi hit game with two hits each. On the mound the Titans sent usual weekend starters to the mound for the first three innings of the game. Gabe Cortez started the game throwing one inning giving up zero runs on two hits and one strikeout, Andrew Parker threw the second inning of the game giving up no runs on one hit and no strikeouts, Josh McCormick threw the third inning giving up no runs on one hit and one strikeout. Alex Marshall threw the final six innings of the game and picked up the win giving up just two runs on four hits and two strikeouts.
The Titans move to 13-23 overall and 9-11 in the CCAC, good for seventh place in the current conference standings. Baseball returns to action on Friday April 11th when they host Trinity Christian College (10-22, 6-14 CCAC) for the first two games of their CCAC series at Rex Weade Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1pm ET. Saturday April 12th the Titans will travel to TCC to conclude the four game series.