JOLIET, Ill.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (24-23, 15-10 CCAC) defeated the Roosevelt University Lakers (26-18, 13-12 CCAC) by a score of 8-7. Saturday's victory makes IU South Bend the team to beat twice in the CCAC Tournament Championship.

Indiana South Bend fell behind early in Saturday's winner's bracket championship when the Lakers scored four runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead. 

The Titans got on the board in the bottom of the first after Anthony Pohl led off the bottom half of the frame with a double off the left field wall and was later driven in by first baseman Brenden Bell's RBI double to cut their deficit to 4-1. 

Roosevelt shortstop Daniel Gutierrez extended the Lakers lead with an RBI double in the top of the third to further the Roosevelt lead to 5-1. 

In the bottom of the third, IU South Bend loaded the bases with nobody out, setting the stage for Brenden Bell's game tying grand slam to knot the game up at 5-5.

Later in the third, center fielder Owen Benson reached on a Roosevelt error that scored Kaleb Farnham to give the Titans a 6-5 lead. 

IU South Bend continued to add insurance runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Brenden Bell drove in his sixth run of the game with a sacrifice fly that scored Josiah Nelson in the bottom of the fourth before a Roosevelt error lead to another run for the Titans in the bottom of the fifth, giving IU South Bend an 8-5 advantage. 

The game was stopped in the top of the sixth inning and picked back up nearly 45 minutes later due to a lightning delay. 

Unphased by the delay, right handed pitcher Jake McKendry returned to the mound where he pitched six innings allowing just two earned runs on four hits to put himself in line for the win.

The Lakers plated a run in the sixth and eighth innings to cut the IU South Bend lead to 8-7.

Roosevelt got the leadoff man aboard in the top of the ninth inning before IU South Bend turned to closer Jack Kienzle for the final three outs. 

Kienzle retired the three Lakers he faced in order to send the Titans onto the CCAC Tournament Championship, winning by a score of 8-7.

The Indiana University South Bend Titans return to action on Monday, May 8th, when they will take on the winner of the game between Saint Xavier and Roosevelt. With a win on Monday, the Titans will punch their ticket to the NAIA National Baseball Tournament.