CROWN POINT, Ind. – In the first day of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, the seventh seeded Indiana University South Bend defeated tenth-seeded Judson, 10-2, in six innings before falling in a nail-biter to two-seeded and No. 14 Saint Xavier by a score of 13-10 on Thursday, May 6 at Crown Point SportsPlex.
The Titans return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET facing the eight seed in Cardinal Stritch for a chance to advance in the tournament.
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Game One: IUSB 10, JU 2
Leading the way for IU South Bend against the Eagles was freshman
Olivia Zarantonello going 3-for-4 with two runs scored while seniors
Savanna Schmitz and
Haylie Williamson both had a 2-for-4 outing.
Senior
Aly Brickel pitched her 11th complete game of the season, allowing just two runs off seven hits with three strike outs.
After a scoreless first frame, the Titans plated three runs off three hits in the top of the second. Freshman
Emily Cave led the inning with a one-out center field double and eventually scored off an RBI single from
Kaylee Darnell. Zarantonello and Darnell scored off a pair of miscues from the Eagle catcher with two outs, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Brickel suffered her first hits of the game in the bottom half, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning but retired the next three batters to end the Judson threat.
Zarantonello started the fourth inning with a single as the Crimson and Cream added three more runs off three hits in the inning, pushing their lead to six.
The Titans looked to be on their way to a run-rule victory after five with another three-run inning in the fifth off two hits and an Eagle error but Judson cut the deficit and broke the shutout with a pair in the bottom half of the frame.
Emily Anglin scored the final run in the sixth after reaching on fielder's choice to help seal the run-rule victory, giving head coach
Natalie Newell her first victory in the conference tournament.
Game Two: IUSB 10, #14 SXU 7
For the 15th time this season and fourth consecutive game, the Titans collected a double-digit hit game with 11 in the CCAC Tournament night cap against their nationally ranked opponent. Saint Xavier knocked a total of 13 on the night, including four in the final seventh inning.
Brittany VanderBrink led the offense with a 4-for-4 outing with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Senior
Kat Bessler and Darnell both added two hits and two runs scored apiece.
After both teams added a run in the first, the Cougars took the one-run lead after getting one back in the top of the second. The Titans scattered three runs in the bottom half, taking a two-run advantage that was highlighted by three singles from Darnell, Bessler and VanderBrink.
The Cougars added a run in the fourth, cutting into the IUSB lead, 4-3, but a four-run frame in the bottom half pushed the Titans up 8-3. In the fifth, both the Cougars and Titans combined four five runs but IUSB still held the four-run lead at 10-6.
The Cougars plated one run in the sixth, pulling within three and a six-run seventh inning sealed the comeback victory over the Titans. In the final frame, the Cougars registered six runs off four hits.
Senior
Becca Stevens suffered the loss after an impressive game in the circle for the Titans allowing nine runs off 11 hits and five strikeouts. Freshman
Macie Couch came in on relief in the final frame, allowing four runs and two hits.
