KOKOMO, Ind. – In a battle of the final two unbeaten teams in the River States Conference, the Indiana University Kokomo baseball squad earned a split with the Midway University Eagles on Friday at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. 
 
After falling behind in the first game, the Cougars scored 15 unanswered runs to take the first game, 15-5, giving the Cougars the top spot in the RSC. Their time at the top did not last long as Midway narrowly escaped with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap to move back on top of the Cougars by a half game in the standings. 
 
Game One Key Moments

• The Eagles took an early 5-0 lead as they got to IU Kokomo starter Owen Callaghan in the top of the first, forcing the lefty to throw 37 pitches. 
• Thomas Obergfell led off the home half of the third with a single. Riley Garczynski singled to put runners at the corners. Pat Mills drove in Obergfell to get the Cougars on the board. Two batters later, Jared Heard doubled to score Garczynski. Jack Leverenz plated two runs with a double to deep center, making it a one-run game, 5-4. 
• The big blow came in the fourth inning when the Cougars took advantage of three Midway errors to plate seven runs, giving IUK an 11-5 advantage. Obergfell picked up two RBI while Mills drove in one in the big inning. 
• Noah Hurlock and Heard each drove in a run during the fifth inning, extending the IUK lead to 13-5. 
• Tucker Platt reached in the eighth on a one-out single and would give way to pinch runner Bryce Lenz. Lenz swiped second and advanced on a throwing error by the Midway catcher. Luke Hanson ended the game by way of the 10-run rule with a single up the middle, scoring Lenz.  

Game One Pitching 

• Callaghan settled in after a 37-pitch first inning, allowing just three more hits in his outing. The lefty exited the game after 7.2 innings, earning his fifth victory of the year. 
• Brandon Bultemeier pitched a third of an inning in relief. 

Game Two Key Moments

• The Eagles plated three runs in the top of the third to take the early lead. 
• Heard singled through the right side with one out in the fourth and would score on a triple from Leverenz. Jarod Gillespie drove in Leverenz to bring the Cougars within a run of the Midway lead. 
• Trailing by a run in the seven-inning game, Hurlock led off the bottom of the sixth with a single. Tahj Borom came on to pinch run and advanced to third on a double by Heard. Leverenz picked up his second RBI of the game, driving in Borom with a single through the left side, tying the game at three. Heard scored on a wild pitch, giving IUK its first lead of the game. The Cougars stranded two runners in the inning but led by one heading into the final inning. 
• Ryan Beck came in to close the door, but the Eagles clawed back, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh to take the 5-4 lead. 
• Garczynski and Mills both reached to lead off the second and were moved into scoring position by a Hurlock sacrifice bunt. After Heard was intentionally walked, the hot bat of Leverenz came to the plate with the chance to win the game. The left-hander ripped a line drive to the second baseman who doubled up Mills at second to end the game. 

Game Two Pitching 

• Ben Harris got the start for the Cougars and threw six innings, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out seven batters.
• Beck took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits. 
• Ethan Leslie struck out the only two batters he faced. 

Up Next

• The Cougars and Eagles will conclude the series with a rubber match tomorrow at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. First pitch for the series finale is set for 12:00 p.m.