Lake Tosses Complete Game in Split Doubleheader
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – IU South Bend baseball split a Friday doubleheader with Grace College, dropping the opener before responding with a dominant 10-2 victory in game two behind a complete-game performance from junior right-hander Gavin Lake.
The Titans picked up win number four for 2026 with the late game victory on Friday.
Game One: Grace Uses Big Middle Innings to Pull Away
The Titans struck first in the afternoon matchup.
Senior Jack Barnes put IU South Bend on the board with a solo home run in the second inning. In the third, senior Josiah Nelson delivered an RBI double and junior Luis Turmero added a sacrifice fly to give the Titans a 3-2 edge.
Grace answered with a decisive third inning, highlighted by a home run, on the way to four runs in the frame. The Lancers lead would hold the finale, as they added runs in fifth and sixth for seven-answered scores.
Nelson finished with two hits, including a double, and was joined with multiple hits by leadoff man Nick Turner and nine-hole hitter Lucas Brown.
Braylon Sheefel offered a solid inning of relief for the Titans, logging three outs without any damage done.
Game Two: Lake Goes the Distance in 10-2 Statement Win
The Titans wasted no time flipping the script in the nightcap.
Senior Jayden Cummings walked and stole second to open the game before Josiah Nelson crushed a two-run homer in the first inning to give IU South Bend an early 2-0 lead.
In the third, Turmero added another two-run blast to extend the advantage to 4-0.
Grace trimmed the deficit in the fourth and seventh innings, but the Titans broke the game open with a six-run sixth. RBI hits from Clint Goodman, Lenox Estremera, and John Morgan, along with aggressive baserunning and timely execution, pushed IU South Bend’s lead to 10-1.
Nelson delivered a monster performance at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Turmero added a home run and two RBIs as the Titans totaled 10 runs on six hits.
On the mound, the story belonged to Lake. The junior tossed a complete game, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out nine without issuing a walk. Lake needed just 100 pitches to finish the job and keep Grace off balance all afternoon. The junior transfer picked up his first win as a Titan.
By the Numbers
Josiah Nelson: 5 hits, HR, 5 RBIs across the doubleheader. He also extended his hitting streak to nine.
Gavin Lake: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 9 K, 0 BB
Luis Turmero: HR in game two, 3 RBIs on the day
The Titans will be right back to it in Jasper, Indiana on Saturday, facing Grace once again in a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 am.