GRANGER, Ind. – A doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon set up IU South Bend with a win-and-in scenario for their regular season finale on Sunday, as the Titans swept a three-game series over Lincoln with a pair of victories over the Lynx, 13-8 in game one, and 15-6 in game two.
The Titans (15-29-1, 9-19-1 CCAC) can secure the 8th and final seed in next week's CCAC Tournament with a win over Judson at Rex Weade Stadium on Sunday. With a loss, the Titans can still qualify if Trinity International defeats Trinity Christian in their final meeting on Monday.
Following the Senior Day festivities that celebrated the careers of eight Titans – Zach Brooks Dehn, Matt Rose, Colin Mack, Scott Stetz, Nolan Unger, Colin Wise, Max Govert, and Marty Ewing – IU South Bend jumped out to a big early lead in the opening game, with a 2-0 lead after the first inning, on an Evan Allen sacrifice fly and Brett Sikorski's fielder's choice. The Lynx (1-38, 1-29 CCAC) responded with a run in the top of the 2nd, but the Titans would pull away over the next two innings.
Brenden Bell extended the lead with his third home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave IUSB a 5-1 advantage. After two batters were hit by pitches in the top of the 3rd, Allen made it a 6-1 by scoring on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the 4th, back-to-back doubles from Sikorski and Jake Vanderwoude highlighted a six-run inning, as the Titans went ahead 12-1. Lincoln would rally back with five runs in the top of the 5th, but were unable to close the gap as the Titans secured at least a win in the series.
Nolan Unger finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, while the Nos. 2, 3, and 4 in the IUSB lineup of Tony Reyes, Bell and Allen each had two hits in the win.
In the second game of the day, the Titans again struck quickly, scoring four runs in the bottom of the 1st. Bell started the rally with an RBI single, followed by a run-scoring base hit from Vanderwoude and a two-out, two-RBI for Owen Benson. A Lincoln error allowed for another run and a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd, before six unanswered for the Lynx over the next three innings had the visitors with a 6-5 lead in the middle of the 5th inning.
Sikorski quickly tied the game again at 6-6, with a home run to right field to even the score. The Titans would add two runs in the 6th, and two more in the 7th for a 10-6 advantage. Five runs in the bottom of the 8th nearly ended the game on run rule, as the Titans pulled away to earn the sweep.
Benson led the offense in game two, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three RBI and three run scored. Hunter Bedell earned the win out of the bullpen, pitching the final 4.2 innings with just one hit allowed and six strikeouts.
