PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Donnie Necas and Evan Allen each hit a three-run home run during Saturday's doubleheader between IU South Bend and Trinity Christian, as the Titans earned a split with the Trolls – dropping game one 5-4 in extra innings before rebounding to take game two 10-5.
A scoreless game through three innings, the Titans got on the board in the top of the 4th after a leadoff single and walk from Brenden Bell and Brett Sikorski set up a three-run home run from Necas. IU South Bend made it a 4-0 game in the 6th after another leadoff base hit from Bell and an error allowed Sikorski to record an RBI single to right.
Starting pitcher Alex Babbitt threw six shutout innings, including a run of seven straight hitters retired in a row, but the Trolls rallied in the top of the 7th, scoring four runs to tie the score and send the 7-inning contest into extras. The Trolls would score the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th to earn the win in the opener.
Bell finished the first game 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Necas had the team's lone extra-base hit in the game for IUSB.
Trinity Christian struck first in game two, posting three runs in the top of the 1st on four base hits. After a Tony Reyes single and Bell reaching on error, Allen tied the game in one swing with his two-out, three-run home run.
Jake Vanderwoude gave his team a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 2nd, as his RBI double scored Kole Miller, who led the inning off with a double to left. IUSB went up 5-3 in the 3rd on Necas' groundout, as Sikorski scored on an error to increase the Titans' lead.
IU South Bend continued to pull away with two runs in the 4th inning and three more in the 5th to secure the win. Zach Dobos earned the win on the mound, pitching all seven innings and striking out five while allowing just one walk.
Miller and Vanderwoude each recorded two hits in the win including a double.
The Titans will look to continue the momentum on Wednesday, April 13 when they travel to Saint Xavier. First pitch with the Cougars is set for 2:00 p.m. ET.