CHICAGO, Ill.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (9-15, 1-5 CCAC) dropped both games day two of the double header versus St. Xavier University losing game one 16-4 and game two 23-13.
GAME 1
The Titans started the scoring early in game 1 with a lead off triple from senior infielder Logan Smith. An error by the cougar third basemen on a hard ground ball would see the Titans plate their first run on the first tow batters of the game. Another error by the Cougars with bases loaded would plate the Titans second run of the inning.
Freshman pitcher Josh Vis got the start on the mound for the Titans. The Cougars responded to the Titans with a run of their own on two hits. After the first inning of play the Titans hung on to a narrow 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the second the Cougars retook the lead putting up six runs on six hits. They added three more runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning on 3 more hits. In the bottom of the 4th inning the Cougars would throw up another 6 runs on 5 more hits.
The Titans would rally in the top half of the 6th inning, Charlie Martini worked a walk, Donnie Necas would reach base on another Cougar error, setting the table for a Logan Smith RBI single to center. A hit-by-pitch and a walk would plate another run for the Titans. The game would finish with a score of 16-4.
GAME 2
The Cougars got the offense started in the bottom half of the 1st inning with 2-run and solo home runs respectively. Down 3 runs the Titans would respond in top of the 2nd inning with a 2 run-homer run of their own from sophomore JoJo Nelson.
St. Xavier would respond with four more runs on three hits. The Titans continued to chip away at the lead as a Braedon Leathed walk and Logan Smith single set the table for an Anthony Pohl sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning the Cougars pushed across another seven runs on three hits. The score would stand 14-3 at the end of the 3rd inning.
Both teams went scoreless in the 4th inning. With momentum back on the Titans side the offense would explode for six runs. Braedon Leathed got the inning started reaching first base on a walk. Logan Smith would hit a 2-run home run to right field. Evan Fortson doubled off the left field wall. Setting the stage for an Anthony Pohl RBI single up the middle. One batter later Jack Ryan would smash the Titans second home run of the inning. Gabe Cortez followed that up with a triple in the right field corner, where he would later score on a wild pitch.
Junior pitcher Jack Kienzle would throw up another zero in the 6th inning to get the hot Titan offense back to the plate to continue chipping away at the lead, much like the 5th inning Braedon Leathed would make his way to first base with a single. A few batters later Anthony Pohl crushed a towering 2-run home run right center, putting the Titans withing striking distance 14-11.
The Cougars responded with five runs of their own on four hits. The Titans then continued to keep themselves in the game with another two runs in the top of the 7th inning. Gabe Cortez hit a ground-rule double to right field, and Josiah Nelson clubbed his second home run of the game over the right center wall.
After a scoreless bottom of the 7th inning and top of the 8th inning, the Cougars put the game out of reach scoring four runs on two hits in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The Titans will be off next week before returning to the ball diamond Tuesday, March 26th against Judson University looking to win the series in the Titans home opener at Rex Weade Stadium. Following the mid-week games against Judson the Titans will travel to Saint Ambrose for a 4 game CCAC showdown on March 29th and 30th.
