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 7th 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 1st inning.
However, Ave Maria scored 2 of their own in the bottom half of the 2nd
inning.
The Gyrenes
then added 2 more in the 5th extending their lead to 4-1. The Titans
bats were silent until the 7th 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 Papp each had 2 hits in game 1 while Mangus had 2
RBI’s.
Game 2 was
another close game as the Titans fell to the Gyrenes 7-6 on a walk-off.
Junior RHP
Ben Wicklund (1-0) started the game for the Titans throwing a hitless game for
the first 3 innings. Wicklund threw 5.2 innings allowing 6 runs, 2 earned,
before being replaced by Freshman Jordan Moore (1-1).
The Titans
found themselves with their backs against the wall once again, being down 3
runs in the top of the 6th inning before they singled home 3 runs
tying up the game.
The Gyrenes
answered the Titans, scoring a run to take the lead heading into the top of the
7th. IUSB then found a way to get a run across to tie the game once
again with help from a bases-loaded walk from Ave Maria’s Justin Bureau.
In the
bottom of the 7th the Gyrenes got a lead-off single, who was then
bunted into scoring position, thus leading way for Ave Maria’s Andy Hernandez
to hit the game-winning single.
The Titans
were led offensively by Chris Mangus who added 3 more hits and Spencer McCool who
had 2 hits in game 2.
Brandon Papp and Zack Lazenby each had 2 RBI’s in the
Titans loss.
The Titans
wrap up the four-game series with Ave Maria with a doubleheader tomorrow, March
11th. First pitch is scheduled for 11am.