The Titan Times

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 CHICAGO, Ill – The Titans (9-12, 2-2) traveled to Chicago to continue their conference season against St. Xavier University (11-17, 3-1). Coming off a huge offensive showing IUSB couldn’t seem to pick up where they left off, only having one hit in their 1-2 loss in game one. The Titans found their stride again in game two tallying 9 hits, but it was the defenses 6 errors that hurt the Titans in game twos 3-4 loss. Junior RHP Paul Geha (0-2) started game one for the Titans only lasting 0.2 of an inning before being replaced by Sophomore Tyler Reece. Geha gave up 2 runs in his short stint on the mound, but struggled finding the zone walking 2, leading to Coach Mike Huling’s decision to take out the Right-Hander from Fort Wayne, Ind. Tyler Reece was immaculate out of the bullpen for IUSB going 5.1 innings, giving up no runs on just 1 hit. Reece really kept the Titans in the game, but didn’t have any offensive support to back up his perf

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Titans (9-10, 2-0) had their home and conference opener Friday night in a doubleheader against Trinity International University (8-10, 0-2). IUSB won both games with the help of great pitching in game one and an explosive offense in game two. The Titans took game one 4-1 and game two 18-4. Senior RHP Trey Bickel (2-3) started game one for the Titans. Bickel was hitless through four innings before giving up a home run in the fifth inning to TIU’s Michael Balistreri. The home run was the only hit Bickel suffered in his 6 innings of work while striking out 6 walking 3. Junior LHP Zane Gonzalez entered the game in the seventh inning to close the door for the Titans, giving up no runs on no hits in his one inning of work while earning the save. Offensively the Titans were quiet for the first three innings before scoring 2 runs in the fourth inning that was started by a Spencer McCool double. The Titans then went on to s

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 BABSON PARK, FL – IUSB (7-10) traveled to Babson Park, FL to play their final game of their spring trip against Webber International University (22-4). The Titans were plagued by early errors and couldn’t seem to recover as Webber took the game handily 17-1. Senior RHP Trey Bickel (1-3) got the start for the Titans against the Warriors, hoping to spark IUSB for one last win before heading back to South Bend. Bickel seemed to have his usual stuff, but an error on a routine double play ball in the first inning would come back to bite the Titans as Bickel couldn’t seem to find any sort of rhythm after it. Bickel threw 2.2 innings giving up 13 runs, 10 earned, on 13 hits. Bickel was replaced by Junior LHP Zane Gonzalez in the third inning, looking to hold off the Warriors from blowing the door open any more than it already was. Gonzalez came in and got a quick out to end the inning but gave up 3 runs in the next inning bringing the Warri

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 LAKE WALES, FL – The Titans (7-9) dropped their first game of the day 1-5 in a seven inning non-conference game against conference foe Purdue Northwest University (6-6). IUSB received a great effort from Junior RHP Paul Geha going 5 innings allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, and a hand full of strikeouts before being replaced by Freshman John Ward due to a high pitch count. Ward made his second appearance in as many games, throwing 2 innings giving up 1 run, 0 earned. Ward is really starting to prove himself as an asset out of the bullpen for the Titans this trip. The offense for the Titans seemed to be non-existent only scrapping together 3 hits for 1 run that came on a Chris Mangus sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh. Nick Kellams, Austin Thomas, and Sammy Nieves each had one hit for IUSB. IUSB faces Webber International at 7pm for the last game of their spring trip. The Titans are currently 1-6 in Florida and are seeking a victory

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 LAKE WALES, FL – The Titans continued their spring trip with a doubleheader with Warner University in Lake Wales, FL. The Royals took both games, winning game one 6-4 and game two 14-5. The IUSB offense got off to an early start scoring 4 runs in the second inning. Led by a Zack Lazenby Home Run. The 4 runs were the only runs the Titans would score in game one. Sophomore RHP Tyler Reece got the start in game one. Reece rolled right through the Royal lineup in the first two innings, but seemed to lose his groove in the third inning. Reece gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, in his 3 innings of work before giving way Sophomore Brett Bashaw. Bashaw only went 0.2 of an inning, giving up the tying run to the Royals in the third inning.  Freshman LHP Andy Ross came in to replace Bashaw, going 1 inning allowing 2 runs on 1 hit while walking 1. Freshman Jordan Moore came in for Andy Ross to stop the bleeding for the Titans. Moore went 1.1 innings

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 AVE MARIA, FL – IUSB (7-6) wrapped up a four-game series with Ave Maria University (14-15) Saturday afternoon. The Titans dropped game one by a score of 11-2 but bounced back with a vengeance and won game two 9-8. Sophomore LHP Eric Calip (0-1) started game one for IUSB but had trouble finding the strike zone going 2.1 innings allowing 7 earned runs and striking out 3 but walked 4. Calip was replaced by Sophomore RHP Brett Bashaw who made his Titan debut in the third inning going 2.2 innings, giving up 3 runs, 2 earned. Junior LHP Zane Gonzalez also made his Titan debut today, throwing 1 inning giving up no runs on no hits and one strikeout. The Titans offense stranded runners in scoring position in the first two innings, but couldn’t seem to get in a groove at the plate. Senior Chris Mangus led the way on offense going 2 for 4 with a home run. Brandon Papp also had an RBI in the 2-11 loss. Junior RHP Paul Geha started game t

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 AVE MARIA, FL – The Titans (6-5) opened their spring trip with the first two games of a four-game series against Ave Maria University (13-14) in Ave Maria, FL Friday. Ave Maria shut down a Titan rally in the 7 th inning of game 1 to win 4-3 and won in walk-off fashion in game 2 7-6. IUSB got off to an early lead in game 1 scoring one run in the 1 st inning. However, Ave Maria scored 2 of their own in the bottom half of the 2 nd inning. The Gyrenes then added 2 more in the 5 th extending their lead to 4-1. The Titans bats were silent until the 7 th inning where they showed some life scoring 2 runs of their own. Brandon Papp was thrown out at third base trying to take an extra base after a Chris Mangus single, ending the game and the Titans hopes in game 1. Senior RHP Trey Bickel (1-2) started the game for IUSB going 6 innings, allowing 4 runs and striking out 6 while receiving the loss. Senior Chris Mangus and Junior Brandon

Game 1                                                                                           Game 2                   1 2 3 4 5 6 7    R                                                                      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R Warriors  0 1 0 1 0 3 1     6                                                      Warriors  3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  4 Titans       1 4 0 0 0 0 2    7                                                     Titans       1 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 X  8 By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 WESTFIELD, IN – The Titans (6-3) finished their three-game series with the Warriors of Rochester College (3-9) Sunday, winning both games in come back fashions. The Titans won game 1 7-6 on a walk-off wild pitch and game 2 8-4 surged by a 5-run bottom of the 8 th . The Titans offense hit the ground running early in game 1 scoring 5 runs in the first two innings. Senior RHP Trey Bickel (1-1) started the game for the Titans going 5.1 innings before being replaced by LHP Eric Calip. B

By Zane Gonzalez I @ZaneGonzo36 Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Titans 0 2 5 0 0 3 6 16 12 0 Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 WESTFIELD, IN – IUSB (4-3) travelled to Grand Park in Westfield, IN to face Rochester College (3-7) in the first game of a three-game set. The Titans were the visitors in game 1 where they put up 16 runs to beat the Warriors 16-0. Junior RHP Kyle Rago (2-1) was amazing on the mound once again, throwing his second straight shutout. Rago pitched to contact as he usually does, going 7 innings only allowing 2 hits, while striking out three. Rago walked only one batter in his complete game, proving to be one of Coach Huling’s most reliable arms right now. The offense was led by Senior Chr