KOKOMO, Ind. – The Indiana University Kokomo baseball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday afternoon as the Cougars came up just short against the Madonna Crusaders, losing 5-4 at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. 
 
Key Moments

• Madonna got to IU Kokomo starter, Mason Whiteley early as the Crusaders plated four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead. 
• Pat Mills led off the bottom of the third with a ground-rule double down the right field line. Mills advanced to third after Noah Hurlock reached on an error by the Madonna shortstop. Jack Leverenz picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to make it a 4-1 game. After a sacrifice bunt by Luke Hanson, Jarod Gillespie drove in Leverenz with a single through the left side to cut the IUK deficit in half. 
• A leadoff double by the Crusaders in the fifth came around to score to extend the Madonna lead to 5-1. 
• Gillespie drove in his second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth with a single to centerfield, scoring Leverenz who reached on an error and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. 
• Hurlock reached on a one-out single in the home half of the seventh and would give way to pinch runner Thomas Obergfell. Obergfell moved into scoring position after a Leverenz walk. Gillespie lifted a ball down the left field line that the Madonna fielder misplayed, allowing Obergfell to score, making it a 5-4 game. 
• The Cougars got the tying run into scoring position in the eighth when Bryce Lenz singled and stole second. A groundout and flyout would end the inning.
• Leverenz reached on a single in the Cougars' final at-bat but would be stranded at second base to end the game. 

Pitching Key Moments

• Whiteley took the loss, tossing 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. 
• Connor Hurt had the longest outing of the day for the Cougars, going 3.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits. 
• Dylan Steele threw one inning, allowing no runs on no hits. 
• Brandon Bultemeier tossed two inning and allowed two hits. 
• Brandon Clarke fanned three batters in one inning of work. 

By the Numbers 

• Gillespie and Lenz each finished with two hits while Gillespie drove in two runs. 
• The Cougars offense struck out just three times. 

Up Next

• The Cougars will return to River States Conference action this week as they travel to Rio Grande to take on the Red Storm. The series has been moved from Friday/Saturday to Thursday/Friday due to the threat of inclement weather over the weekend.