CLEVELAND, Ga. - The IU Kokomo baseball team closed out a three-game series at Truett McConnell Saturday with a 20-19 loss in a game that included 38 hits. The Cougars are 4-2 overall through two weekends.

Game Highlights

• IU Kokomo got the scoring started, scoring three runs in the top of the first, all with two outs in the inning. Jonathan Latham reached on error and Dylan Steele followed with a walk, before Noah Hurlock hit a three-run homer to left for a 3-0 lead.
• The Cougars stranded two in the top of the second, before Truett McConnell scored six unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. The Bears led 6-3 after two innings.
• Truett McConnell scored four-runs in the bottom of the third, including a three-run homer. 
• IU Kokomo responded in a big way, scoring 12 runs on seven hits. Luke Barnes hit a grand-slam to give the Cougars a 12-10 lead and Thomas Obergfell hit a two-run shot to extend the lead to 14. The Cougs led 15-10 after three and a half innings.
• JT Holton found a groove on the mound, keeping the Bears off of the scoreboard in the 4th, 5th, & 6th innings. IUK added a single run in the sixth on a Riley Garczynski RBI-single.
• Truett got back on the scoreboard in the seventh scoring four-runs on five-hits, but Asa Christie came in in relief and induced a flyout to get IUK out of the frame.
• IU Kokomo responded with three runs on three hits in the top of the eighth. Jarod Gillespie scored on an RBI fielder's choice and Garczynski scored on a Latham RBI-single. Nolan Bowser reached on an error and would score on a Noah Hurlock single, giving IUK a 19-14 lead through eight and a half.
• The Bears were not done yet, hitting a leadoff solo-shot and a three-run blast to cut the lead to one at 19-18. Victor Fujiu came into relive Christie, and  Truett scored two runs on three hits to take a 20-19 lead into the final frame.
• Luke Barnes hit a towering blast that looked to be gone off of the bat, but the Truett centerfielder made a remarkable play, reaching over the wall and robbing Barnes of a game-tying homer.
• Jarod Gillespie singled to keep the Cougars hopes alive, but the following two batters were unable to get on base and Truett won the final game of the series 20-19, and the series 2-1.

Pitching Stats

• Lucas Letsinger got the start Saturday, lasting 1.2 innings and allowing six unearned runs on seven hits. Letsinger walked two and struck out three.
• JT Holton tossed five innings in relief, allowing eight runs on ten hits. Holton struck out two batters.
• Asa Christie got the Cougars out of a jam in the seventh, but recorded just one out in his outing. Christie gave up four runs on three hits.
• Victor Fujiu took the tough loss, pitching the eighth and giving up two runs on three hits.

The Cougars will return to Georgia next weekend for a four-game series at Middle Georgia State. First-pitch Friday is set for 2:30 P.M.

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.