The Kokomo Post Sports - Game of the Week: Marian VS IUK (Photo Gallery)
One of the toughest challenges in sports is beating the same opponent twice in one season. That was Indiana University Kokomo’s task Tuesday afternoon as it hosted Marian University. The Cougars fell short as the Knights won, 7-3, on the road.
The game opened with both teams scoring in the first inning. Marian’s Nathan Pinarski scored on a sacrifice fly, while IU Kokomo’s Gavin Smith and Mason Janz crossed home plate in the bottom half.
In the second inning, Marian head coach Todd Miller deployed an unusual pitching tactic, using a new pitcher each inning. Brady Armstrong was the only Knight to pitch more than one inning, handling the second and third frames. The strategy appeared effective, as the Cougars struggled to get on base.
Marian tied the game in the top of the second before taking the lead in the third when the Knights scored two runs. That inning also saw the first pitching change for the Cougars.
A lengthy delay followed when IU Kokomo’s Jack Bruington took the mound to warm up with one out in the top of the third. Officials discovered his name was missing from the submitted roster due to the Cougars’ use of old roster cards. After a 15-minute delay and a discussion among coaches and umpires, the game resumed with Bruington allowed to pitch. He finished the inning, giving up one hit and no runs.
IU Kokomo fought hard for the remainder of the game, managing just one more run in the bottom of the sixth when Mike Talesky scored on a Kasy Ross RBI double. Meanwhile, Marian’s consistent rotation of pitchers and timely hitting proved too much. The Knights added two runs in the third and fifth innings and another in the seventh, finishing with 13 hits.
The Cougars will have little time to recover as they travel to Fort Wayne Wednesday, April 16, to face Indiana Tech at Warrior Baseball Field.
