SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The South Bend Silver Hawks defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps by a score of 10-2 on Monday night, earning a sweep of the three-game series in the process. South Bend scored six runs in the first three innings, putting Fort Wayne in an insurmountable hole.

The South Bend (10-8, 45-43) onslaught began in the first inning, as they put two runs on the board. TinCaps starter Ruben Mejia (1-4) struck out Chris Ellison to begin the inning, but then allowed three consecutive base hits. The third of those was a two-run double by first baseman Matt Helm. The Silver Hawks added another run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Raul Navarro.

Leading 3-0 in the third, South Bend continued to score. Eric Groff, a .216 hitter entering Monday's action, hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot that extended the lead to 6-0. Mejia's outing came to an end after that hit, marking the second time this year Mejia has failed to make it out of the third inning in a start against the Silver Hawks.

Fort Wayne (10-8, 41-47) scored its first run in the fifth inning against starter Alex Capaul (1-1). The righty plunked Tyler Stubblefield, who was leading off the inning. Kyle Gaedele followed with an RBI double off the center field wall, scoring Stubblefield and making the score 6-1. Capaul, who had struck out one batter in 11 2/3 innings prior to Monday, struck out six batters in five innings of work. TinCaps reliever James Jones allowed a run in the fifth, allowing the Silver Hawks to extend their advantage to 7-1. Three runs scored against James Needy in the nine-batter sixth inning, as he was touched up for three hits in the inning and also hit two batters. Austin Hedges hit a seventh-inning solo home run, pulling the final margin to 10-2.

The TinCaps have off on Tuesday, and will open a six-game homestand on Wednesday. The first game of a three-game series against the Beloit Snappers is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with Frank Garces to start for the TinCaps and Tyler Jones to take the hill for the Snappers.