Titans drop high-scoring matchup with Saint Xavier

CHICAGO, Ill. – High winds led to a tough day for pitching staffs on both sides, as IU South Bend and Saint Xavier combined for 60 runs over just 12 innings in Thursday’s doubleheader. The host Cougars took game one, 17-13 before game two was called due to darkness after the 5th inning, in a 15-15 tie.
Evan Allen led the offense for the Titans (11-24, 5-14 CCAC), going a combined 6-for-8 at the plate over both games with five RBI including a two-run home run in game two. Brett Sikorski drove in six RBI on the day, including five in game two on a pair of doubles.
The Cougars (30-9, 13-4 CCAC) jumped out to a big lead in the opener, scoring three runs in the 1st inning and taking a 4-0 lead into the 3rd, where the home team would go on a 10-run rally to build a 14-0 advantage.
IU South Bend came back with a 12-run rally in the top of the 4th, as the first six batters of the inning reached base. The Titans hit five extra-base hits during the inning, including two doubles from Allen and a triple from Jake Vanderwoude.
IUSB were unable to post another long rally, as Saint Xavier pushed their lead to 17-12 with two runs in the 5th inning and one more in the 6th. A bases loaded walk for Vanderwoude in the top of the 7th added one more run for the Titans, driving in Tony Reyes for the 17-13 final score.
In the second game of the day, the Titans used another double-digit inning to take a big lead, scoring 11 in the top of the 2nd for an early 11-3 lead. Colin Mack tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single, scoring Coby Campbell, and two batters later Reyes’ single brought home Mack for the 4-3 lead.
Sikorski added a three-run double just before Allen’s two-run blast, and Donnie Necas capped the rally with a two-RBI double for the 10th and 11th runs of the inning.
The Titans added two more in the 3rd inning on another run-scoring double from Sikorski. The Cougars came back with five runs in the bottom of the 4th to make it a 13-10 Titan lead.
Four walks and a single added to the IUSB lead in the 5th, and Necas’ fielder’s choice scored Allen for a 15-10 lead. Saint Xavier would respond again however, with five more in the bottom of the 5th to tie the game.
Heading into the top of the 6th, the game was called on darkness. A makeup date to continue the rest of the game will be announced at a later date.
The Titans will now prepare for a matchup at Calumet on Tuesday, April 19, as Saturday’s doubleheader with Oakland City has been cancelled. First pitch with the Crimson Wave is set for 5:00 p.m. ET.