By: ZANE
GONZALEZ I @ZaneGonzo36
LAKEVILLE,
Ind. – The Titans (11-16, 4-6) were in search of a series sweep against Olivet
Nazarene University (18-15, 7-5) on Saturday and hopes of reaching .500 in the
CCAC.
The Titans
dropped game one in yet another one-run loss 4-5. But the Titans came back in
game two of the doubleheader with a vengeance winning by one-run 9-8.
Senior RHP
Trey Bickel got the nod for the Titans in game one. Bickel threw 6 innings in
the game allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, while striking out 12.
Freshman
John Ward pitched 1 inning in relief for the Titans allowing no hits, while
striking out 2.
The bats for
the Titans were silent in the opener, as they were held hitless through 5.2
innings until senior Sammy Nieves had a pinch hit single in the sixth inning.
IUSB finished with only 2 hits in game one.
Senior Chris
Mangus had the other hit for the Titans when he homered over the left field
wall in the bottom of the seventh for 3 runs that put them within one.
Unfortunately, the seventh inning rally would end there as the Titans dropped
game one 4-5.
The Titan
bats came to life in game two however, scoring 7 runs in the first two innings.
Freshman
John Ward started the game for the Titans after closing game one. Ward lasted 4
innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 5 hits while striking out 5.
Sophomore
RHP Brett Bashaw came in to replace Ward, but only lasted 0.2 of an inning
giving up 3 runs on 3 hits before being replaced by Freshman Jordan Moore.
Moore also
threw only 0.2 of an inning giving up 1 run on 2 hits while walking 2. Moore
was relieved by Junior LHP Zane Gonzalez.
Gonzalez
came in and shut the door for the Titans throwing 3.2 innings, allowing 1 run,
0 earned, and struck out 3. Gonzalez picked up the win relief as well.
Offensively
the Titans were led by Freshman Tanner Wesp and Senior Kevin Phelps. Wesp went
3 for 4 in game two with 2 home runs and 2 RBI’s. Phelps went 3 for 5 with a
double and scored 2 runs.
Sophomore
Josh Fry also had a home run in game two with 3 RBI’s in the 9-8 victory.
The Titans
bounce back tomorrow with another conference doubleheader against Judson
University at Newton Park, where the Titans have a winning record so far.