The Kokomo Post Sports - Game of the Week: Indiana Tech VS IU Kokomo (Photo Gallery)
Indiana University Kokomo entered its midweek matchup against Indiana Tech on a four-game winning streak. The Cougars had scored at least 11 runs in three of those four games, fueling their confidence for a potential upset on their home field. However, it was the Warriors who ultimately prevailed, securing an 11-10 road victory.
Pitching controlled the early innings. Indiana Tech’s Austin Byford struck out two batters in the first, while IU Kokomo’s Koen Berry responded with a strikeout of his own in the second.
The Warriors struck first in the top of the third when Jacoby Roberson, who had just entered as a courtesy runner, came around to score.
Indiana Tech maintained a one-run lead through the fourth before breaking the game open in the fifth. The Warriors capitalized on IU Kokomo’s struggles on the mound, erupting for seven runs before Logan Rybarczyk popped out for the first out of the inning.
The Cougars answered with a three-run bottom half. Noah Wolf led off with a double to the gap in right-center and later scored, putting IU Kokomo on the board.
IU Kokomo continued to chip away, adding two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run home run from Gavin Smith.
Indiana Tech, however, responded with two insurance runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth, extending its lead to 11-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Cougars mounted one final push. After scoring two runs early in the inning, Payton Hankins launched a two-run homer to bring them within one. But their comeback bid fell just short, as Indiana Tech held on for the win.
