MARIAN, Ind. – The Indiana University South Bend baseball team suffered a pair of losses in its midweek matchup Wednesday, March 10, to the hands of Indiana Wesleyan University on the road.
IUSB saw both games slip away in an offensive shootout in Marion by the scores of 15-14 and 14-13 as the Titans drop to 1-9 overall this season.
Game One: IUSB 14, IWU 15
Both teams collected 14 hits in game one of the double dip, but a 10-run and two-run Wildcat sixth and seventh inning plagued the Titans in the loss.
Senior
Logan Young and sophomore
Logan Smith were a few of the bright spots for the Titans offensively. Young went 1-for-2 with four RBI, two runs scored and three walks while Smith went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, a run scored and one walk.
IUSB's other hits were spread out amongst six other Titans, including
TJ DeHerrera (1-for-4),
Scott Stetz (1-for-4),
Greg Pietsch (1-for-1),
Jared Bais (2-for-4),
Nolan Lorenz (2-for-5) and
Austin Ver Wey (3-for-4).
On the mound, junior
Kage Haeck went three innings, striking out one and allowed three Wildcat runs. In relief, senior
Zach Dehn was the bright spot going two innings and allowed just one hit to go along with two strikeouts.
After leading 11-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, IWU's offensive exploded striking for 10 to take a 13-11 lead into the final inning. IU South Bend responded and regained a 14-13 lead in the seventh after a three-run half inning that started with freebies from DeHerrera and Young. Pinch runner
Nick Banks and Young would eventually score to tie the ball game while junior
Colin Mack added the go-ahead run.
That was the final run production the Titans could muster before IWU responded with a two-run homer to left field off Young to seal the victory.
Game Two: IUSB 13, IWU 14
Once again the Titans found themselves leading but this time after the top of the fifth inning after a five-run IUSB frame to lead 11-9. With the score tied at 12-12, IUSB regained the lead with a run in the top of the seventh.
Leading off, DeHerrera smashed his first homer this season to right field to put the Titans up 13-12. Indiana University South Bend ran out of steam as the next three batters were forced to retire the side.
The Wildcats responded with two runs on two outs in the bottom of the seventh for the victory in the Wednesday nightcap and pushed their win streak to twelve.
DeHerrera led the offense in Wednesday's second game as the senior went 4-for-5 with six RBI and three runs scored. Dehn added three RBI after going 1-for-2 while Ver Wey notched two RBI.
The Titans remain on the road Friday, March 12, traveling to Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference opponent Lourdes in Toledo, Ohio for another non-conference doubleheader before welcoming Lourdes for another doubleheader dip at home on Saturday, March 13.
The home opener is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at Rex Weade Stadium in Granger, Ind.
