JOLIET, Ill. -- The University of St. Francis baseball team jumped out to early multi-run leads in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, but Indiana University South Bend was able to counter with 20 runs of its own to claim a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of the Fighting Saints with its 10-6 and 10-8 victories at Slammers Stadium.  In between the two games, the program recognized its 10 seniors - Trey Bryant, Drew Dant, Kai Formella, Brayan Hidalgo, Jake Klepacz, Alex Martinez, Sean Michalak, Alex Mielcarz, Isaac Milovich and Cliff Vickers.

The Saints (24) outhit IUSB (23) on the day, but the Titans were able to take advantage of starting second baseman Jack Ryan's big offensive afternoon.  He showcased a four-hit day that consisted of 10 RBIs, five runs scored and three home runs.  The final blow was an eighth-inning grand slam in the nightcap to put the guests up for good.

Indiana South Bend (18-26, 13-13 CCAC) rallied from behind in both contests, working back from 3-0 and 4-0 deficits in each end of the doubleheader.  Four multi-run frames in Game 1 and another three in Game 2, including four-run outbursts in both contests, fueled the Titan rallies.

Four Saints in total recorded hits on both sides of the doubleheader.  Jake Merda (4-for-9, 3 RBI), Ethan Fleming (4-for-8, 1 RBI) and Nate Maliska (4-for-8, 1 RBI) led all hitters, while Max Montgomery and Vickers each collected three hits and drove in three runs for St. Francis (19-24, 15-11).

Game 1:  Indiana South Bend 10, USF 6
Vickers authored a two-run home run in the opener to put St. Francis up 3-0 in the first inning, but IUSB's offense countered quickly by posting back-to-back two-run frames in its next two at-bats to go up 4-3.  After the Saints regained the edge at 6-4 in the bottom of the third inning, a back-breaking, four-run fourth inning fueled by two walks and four hits put the Titans back in front at 8-6.  They would go on to add two more insurance runs on sacrifice flies in the sixth inning to seal the four-run decision.

Game 2:  Indiana South Bend 10, USF 8
St. Francis looked to be cruising to a victory in the nightcap after jumping out to a four-run lead after two innings of play.  Mielcarz (2-for-3, 2 walks) connected for the first of his two hits in the game to push Klepacz across the plate for the Saints' first run in the second inning.  That was followed by RBI singles from Maliska and Montgomery.  Merda would later drive home the frame's final run with a two-out double to mark the score at 4-0. 

The Saints would hold a 5-3 advantage heading into the sixth inning, where a St. Francis defensive miscue allowed three unearned runs to cross the plate and put the Titans in front for the first time in the game at 6-5.  A sacrifice fly in the bottom half of that inning followed by a run-scoring double from Klepacz in the seventh enabled the Saints to regain their footing and go back in front by a 7-6 count.  That lasted all of one-half inning as two walks, a double and Ryan's grand slam created for a disastrous eighth frame that resulted in IUSB going back on top for good at 10-7.

The Saints responded by plating one run in the bottom of the inning, but it was not enough as Titan reliever Jack Kienzle picked up his fourth save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

Cristopher Villwock and Zac Blazekovich had solid efforts in relief for the Saints as neither yielded an earned run.  The duo combined for one and 2/3 innings of work and allowed only two hits.

Villwock also had a blemish-free outing in Game 1, retiring all three batters he faced.

Up Next
The Saints head to South Bend on Saturday (April 19) to complete the four-game series against the Titans.  First pitch is at 12 pm CDT at Four Winds Park at Coveleski Stadium.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.