SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Brittany Johnstone hit her first collegiate home run to tie the game, and Savanna Schmitz laid down the bunt on a go-ahead squeeze play, as the duo joined IU South Bend's three other seniors on Saturday afternoon to lead the Titans to a split doubleheader with Lincoln on Senior Day at Dick Pfeil Field.
The Titans (14-18, 5-5 CCAC) were one bad inning away from the sweep, as the Lynx (11-13, 4-8 CCAC) posted seven runs in the top of the 3rd in a 9-6 win in game one. In the second game of the day, IUSB built a 5-0 lead before the visitors posted six runs in the top of the 5th to briefly take the lead before Johnstone and Schmitz led the Titans to a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning for a 7-6 win.
Lincoln struck first in the opener, with a pair of runs in the 2nd inning before collected seven more runs on six hits the following inning for a 9-0 lead. The Titans came back in the bottom half of the 3rd after a leadoff single and walk from Schmitz and Emily Cave. Schmitz would later score on a wild pitch, before Maddy Edwards' two-RBI single made it a 9-3 score.
Leisher cut the deficit in half during a 7th-inning rally, as her second home run of the season brought three runs home for the 9-6 final score.
Schmitz and Leisher combined for six base hits in the opening game, while Edwards went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
A one-out walk from Johnstone led to the first score of game two, as the senior later scored in the bottom of the 2nd on an error to give the Titans a 1-0 advantage. IUSB extended their lead in the 4th inning, as leadoff singles from Johnstone and Shelby Baker led to a two-RBI single from Schmitz, and RBI singles from Cave and Leisher as part of a four-run rally.
Trailing 5-0 in the top of the 5th, with two of the first three batters retired for Lincoln, the Lynx rallied with six straight base hits to score six runs and take the lead.
Johnstone tied the game again at 6-6 with one swing in the bottom of the 5th, hitting a home run to left to start the inning. Olivia Zarantonello doubled, then Jozie Ramer singled, setting the table to Schmitz to lay down a squeeze bunt to bring home pinch-runner Hannah Albright.
Edwards would come in to pitch to start the 6th inning, earning her first career save with two shutout innings to secure the win. Edwards worked around one base hit and a pair of walks while striking out three in the final innings.
Five players finished with two base hits apiece during game two, including Johnstone who also recorded three runs in the win.
The Titans will now prepare for a road trip next Tuesday, April 12, when they travel to Olivet Nazarene. First pitch with the Tigers is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
