South Bend Cubs snap five-game losing streak with 9-1 win over Lansing Lugnuts

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Cubs celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a much-needed win Tuesday night, snapping a five-game losing streak with a 9-1 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts at Four Winds Field.

Before first pitch, fans took part in a Taco and Margarita Fiesta, a two-hour all-you-can-eat buffet featuring samples of new margarita flavors, including cotton candy, spicy, Stu’s Blue, lime and strawberry.

The festive night carried onto the field, where South Bend finished with 12 hits and backed it up with a strong performance from the pitching staff.

The Cubs wasted little time getting started. Kane Kepley led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple, and Ty Southisene followed with a double to bring him home. Cole Mathis later added another run, giving South Bend a 2-0 lead after one inning.

Kepley tripled again in the third to help set up another run, and the Cubs broke the game open in the fourth. South Bend sent its entire lineup to the plate, scoring five runs on five singles and two walks to take an 8-1 lead.

Mathis added the Cubs’ third triple of the night in the seventh, marking the first time South Bend hit three triples in a game since April 2023.

On the mound, Cole Reynolds set the tone with three perfect innings and five strikeouts before the bullpen closed out the series-opening win.

“We were firing on all cylinders,” South Bend Cubs manager Daniel Wassinger said. “The pitching staff did a wonderful job. Cole Reynolds had three really good innings, and then Adam Stone did a really good job as well. We were just relentless and played good defense. It was a good day.”

South Bend will continue the series Wednesday, with first pitch set for 11:05 a.m.