By: ZANE
GONZALEZ I @ZaneGonzo36
DAVENPORT,
IA – The Titans (11-20, 4-10) traveled to Davenport, Iowa for a two-game
conference series against the Saint Ambrose University Bees (12-21, 8-5). IUSB,
coming off a long weekend of five games in three days, looked to get back in
the win column as they dropped their previous two games against Judson
University.
The Titans
dropped game one 2-7 in a game that was in arms reach for IUSB until a
three-run sixth inning surged the Bees to victory. Game two saw the Titans lose
their seventh one-run game by a score of 5-6.
Sophomore
RHP Tyler Reece (2-2) started game one for the Titans, throwing 5 innings in
the seven-inning game. Reece allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, on 5 hits while walking
3.
Freshman RHP
John Ward entered the game in the sixth inning but couldn’t record an out as he
allowed 3 earned runs on 2 hits. Fellow Freshman, LHP Andy Ross came in for
Ward to finish the inning allowing no hits in his inning of work.
The Titans
offense was led by Senior Kevin Phelps who went 1 for 4 with both the team’s
RBI’s.
Sophomore
Josh Fry was the only Titan to record a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 at the
plate.
Junior LHP
Zane Gonzalez made his first start for the Titans this season in game two.
Gonzalez kept the Titans in the game, throwing 5 innings allowing 3 earned
runs. Gonzalez worked out of a couple jams before being relieved by Junior Ben
Wicklund.
Wicklund
entered the game in the sixth inning with a 5-3 lead before allowing two earned
runs in 2 innings of work.
Senior RHP
Trey Bickel (2-6) entered the game in the eighth inning to try and hold the
game at a tie, but allowed an unearned run on error with 2 outs. Bickel
suffered the loss in his one inning of work.
Despite a
leadoff pinch-hit single by Junior Nick Kellams, the Titans couldn’t muster any
offense in the top of the ninth and fell in game two 5-6.
Offensively
Sophomore Spencer McCool and Senior Chris Mangus led the way for the Titans.
McCool went 3 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs. Mangus went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s.
Senior Kevin
Phelps was busy on base paths scoring 3 runs in game two.
The Titans
have dropped their last four conference games bringing their record to 4-10 in
the CCAC.
IUSB returns
to action on Friday, April 14 for the first game of a three-game series with
conference opponent Purdue University Northwest. The game will be played at the
Titans new home field, Newton Park.