JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.-Â The Indiana University South Bend Titans Baseball team began their season with a twin bill on the road in Johnson City, Tennessee.
The Titans opened the year with a 6-1 victory over the Saints of Thomas More University followed by a 1-0 loss to the Golden Bears of West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
Game 1
IU South Began began the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning when senior infielder Logan Smith singled, stole second base, and was driven in by a Brenden Bell single.
The Titans continued the scoring early with two more runs in the bottom of the 2nd, thanks to an RBI groundout by Donnie Necas and a one out RBI single by Owen Benson.
Gabe Cortez topped off the IU South Bend scoring with a three run homerun to left center in the bottom of the 5th.
On the mound, Taylor Clifton picked up the win for the Titans, pitching two innings of scoreless baseball while only allowing one hit.
Riley Getman came on to pitch in the third and retired all three Saints he faced.
Senior Robbie Burger picked up the save in Saturday’s victory, pitching four innings while only allowing one run and striking out five Thomas More hitters in the process.
Game 2
Senior right hander Payton Carney got the ball in game two of the doubleheader and received the tough luck loss. Carney surrendered a first inning homerun that turned out to be the only scoring of the seven inning contest.
Carney went two innings strong before Jackson Krueger came into relieve the right hander. In one inning of work, Krueger struck out two of the three hitters he faced on his way to a scoreless frame.
Alex Babbitt toed the rubber for the last four innings of game two, allowing only one hit in the 13 hitters he faced.
Offensively, the bats went quiet for the Titans in game two. Four hits through seven innings left the Titans scoreless at the end of seven.
IU South Bend saw their best chance to score present itself in the bottom of the 7th, when Coby Campbell made it all the way to third base with two outs only to be left stranded as the Golden Bears went on to win game two by a score of 1-0.
The Indiana University South Bend Titans conclude their first road trip on Sunday, February 5th, with an 11:00 AM game against the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College.