The Bees ended their fantastic regular season on a relatively dour note this weekend when they headed east to take on IU South Bend in a three-game set.

The Fighting Bees were able to get the bat on the ball, but failed to score the runs they needed to find a win against the Indiana University South Bend Titans (23-22, 19-11 CCAC) in the final regular season matchup of the 2021 season.

In game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, St. Ambrose was able to keep up with IUSB in the hit department, with both clubs scattering eight hits each. Mike Coughlin put forward a perfect 3-for-3 effort at the plate, while Cooper Huckabone was able to rope in two RBIs on a 1-for-4 showing.

IUSB struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first on two RBI groundouts. The Bees were able to wrestle back the lead, with Mike Snow plating Coughlin with an RBI single in the third and Huckabone knocking in Shawn Rigsby and the pinch-running Kyel Alexander in the fifth. Brenden Butler punched in Cole Aughenbaugh on an RBI single to cap off the fifth inning rally and give the Bees a two-run lead.

The Titans were able to find their response, with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth. The Bees failed to retaliate, going scoreless in the final two innings and dropping the first game with a final score of 7-4.

Colton Carr was the starter for the Bees in the game 1 defeat. Carr went 5 1/3, scattering eight hits and allowing four earned runs while striking out three. Nick Hernandez pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief, where he sat down the two batters he faced. Carr was credited with the loss.

The Fighting Bees were able to dish out eight more hits in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, but failed to capitalize on their opportunities, only scoring one run across nine innings.

The lone run came in the opening inning, where Rigsby was able to come home on a fielding error from the IUSB catcher.

Starting pitcher Conor OHara kept the Titans quiet for the first three innings, keeping them off the board and only allowing one hit. IUSB broke things open in the bottom of the fourth and never looked back, scoring eight unanswered runs on 10 hits.

OHara went six innings in the game 2 loss, scattering six hits and allowing three earned runs while punching out five. Hernandez pitched two relief innings in his second appearnace of the day. OHara was charged with the loss.

In Sunday's series finale, a sacrifice fly from Aughenbaugh allowed Rigsby to tag from third and gave the Bees an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.

IUSB was able to retaliate yet again, getting to St. Ambrose starter Adam Deal early. The Titans scored eight straight through the first three innings and built a lead that the Bees could not overcome.

St. Ambrose had a great chance to cut a dent into the IUSB lead in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Max Rumpf drew an RBI walk and Coughlin hit into a fielder's choice that plated Aughenbaugh. However, the Titan's pitcher was able to collect two straight outs and stymie the St. Ambrose threat.

The Bees dropped their final regular season game to IUSB with a 14-6 final score. St. Ambrose finished the regular season with a 26-21 record overall and a 22-8 record in league play, good enough for a second place regular season finish behind Olivet Nazarene.

The Fighting Bees will now prepare for the CCAC Tournament. Having sealed the no. 2 seed, the Bees will head straight to DuPage Medical Group field in Joliet, Ill. without having to participate in the play-in round. Official matchups and start times will be anounced shortly.