GRANGER, Ind. – A nine-run outburst over two innings from the visitors was too much to overcome, as IU South Bend fell to the St. Francis Saints on an overcast Wednesday afternoon at Rex Weade Stadium, 12-4.

The Titans (9-16, 3-6 CCAC) held a lead through five innings thanks to RBIs from Brendan Bell and Hunter Bedell giving IU South Bend a 4-2 advantage. Three runs from the Saints (11-18, 7-3 CCAC) in the top of the 6th, followed by six more in the 7th would put the game out of reach in the late innings.

Bell finished 3-for-5 to lead the Titans at the plate, driving in two RBI – one on a base hit in the 1st inning, and the go-ahead run in the 5th – with one run scored. Nolan Unger and Tony Reyes each had two base hits at the top of the lineup, while Brett Sikorski reached base twice on the day on a pair of walks.

The junior gave IUSB the early 1-0 lead, before the Saints would respond with a run in the top of the 2nd and 3rd to go ahead 2-1. A leadoff double from Owen Benson followed by a bunt single by Colin Mack set the stage for Bell's RBI single. After back-to-back walks, Bedell was hit by a pitch to drive in the fourth run of the day for the Titans, for the 4-2 lead.

St. Francis would reclaim the lead with three runs in the 6th, then add to the advantage in the 7th and 8th innings to secure the win.

The Titans will look to bounce back beginning Friday, April 1 when they start a three-game series at Olivet Nazarene. ONU then returns to Rex Weade Stadium for the conclusion of the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 2.