RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The Indiana University Kokomo baseball team defeated the University of Rio Grande 12-1 for a mercy-rule win to open the three-game series. The Cougs got back to their winning ways behind a strong start from Owen Callaghan and are now 10-7 overall, and 4-0 in River States Conference play.
 
Callaghan tossed seven innings of three-hit ball on the afternoon to earn the win and did not give up a hit until the fifth inning. He improved to 3-2 on the season.
 
Riley Garczynski led off the game with a single to left-center and would advance to second on a single to left from Dylan Steele two batters later. Cleanup hitter Noah Hurlock followed Steele's lead and singled to left to score Garczynski and give the Cougars a 1-0 lead after an inning.
 
Leading 1-0 after two innings, the Cougars broke the game open with a five-run third inning. Steele and Hurlock singled to open the inning before Jack Leverenz came through with an RBI double to score Steele. Sean Becker followed with a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0. IU Kokomo managed to scratch two more runs across in the top of the third to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
 
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Steele earned a walk and Hurlock singled to put runners on first and second with two away. Leverenz hit a routine ground ball that went through the legs of the Red Storm second basemen, scoring Steele from second and giving the Cougars a chance for more. 
 
Becker walked to load the bases with two outs for Tucker Platt. Platt doubled to left field, scoring Hurlock and Leverenz. Becker was out at home on the play, but the Cougs led 9-0 after five and a half innings.
 
Lenz was hit by a pitch to begin the seventh inning before the next three Cougar hitters, Garczynski, Mills, and Steele, all doubled to build the lead to 11-0. Pinch-hitter Matt Iacobucci came up with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Steele and make it 12-0.
 
Needing to score three in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game alive, the Red Storm were able to score once on two hits, but IU Kokomo came away with a 12-1 mercy-rule victory.
 
IU Kokomo had 19 hits on the afternoon, including five extra-base hits. Seven Cougars had multi-hit games.

The Cougs will return to the diamond tomorrow morning for a doubleheader with the Red Storm to close out the weekend series. The first game will start at 11:00 a.m. with the second to follow.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.