Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo baseball team closed their regular season with a three-game sweep of Rio Grande, winning by scores of 12-5 and 8-6 in Saturday's doubleheader. With the wins, the Cougars finish 27-19 on the season and 17-10 in conference games.

Prior to first pitch in game one of Saturday's DH, head coach Drew Brantley honored the programs 2023 senior class. Five Cougars, Luke Barnes, Garrison Brege, Brandon Clarke, Mark Goudy, and Noah Hurlock, played in their final home game of their collegiate careers Saturday, and each of them played a role in the DH sweep.

Game One Offensively

• In the second inning, Luke Barnes hit a two-run homer (Dylan Steele scored).
• Four more runs came for the Cougars in the third inning, starting with Gavin Smith scoring on a walk with bases loaded. Then Jack Leverenz hit a 2 RBI single (Dylan Steele scored and Noah Hurlock scored). Luke Barnes then scored on an RBI single from Riley Garczynski.
• In the fourth inning, Dylan Steele singled to centerfield, but an E8 allowed him to score on the play.
• In the fifth inning, Noah Hurlock hit a two-RBI double (Tucker Platt scored and Gavin Smith scored).
• In the sixth, Garrett Lupoi scored on a groundout from Jack Leverenz. After this, a walk with the bases loaded brought Blake Kimball home for another run.
• IUK scored their 12th and final run on an RBI single from Nolan Bowser (Riley Garczynski scored).
• Rio Grande scored a run in the fourth inning, two in the seventh and two in the ninth.

Game One Pitching

• JT Holton started for the Cougars and pitched six innings. Holton gave up five hits and one run while striking out four batters and walking one.
• The senior right-handed relievers, Brege, Goudy, and Clarke all combined to pitch the seventh for the Cougars.
• Asa Christie pitched the eighth inning for the Cougars while Victor Fujiu tossed the ninth.

Game Two Offensively

• In the first inning, Dylan Steele scored on a sacrifice fly from Blake Kimball.
• Gavin Smith hit a solo HR in the second inning.
• In the third inning, Blake Kimball hit a sacrifice fly (Dylan Steele scored). Jarod Gillespie then scored on an infield error. Gavin Smith then hit a home run (Hayden Davis scored).
• Cade Combs and Jack Leverenz both hit solo home runs in the fourth inning.
• Rio Grande scored five runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth.

Game Two Pitching

• Ben Harris started for IUK, pitching three innings. Harris gave up one hit and two walks with one strikeout.
• Tyler Hensch came in after Harris. Hensch gave up two hits and five runs while striking out one batter and walking three.
• Ethan Leslie relieved Hensch and struck out one batter.
• Mason Whiteley closed game two for the Cougars. Whiteley gave up three hits and one run while walking one batter and striking out two.

The Cougars have clinched the #4 seed in this week's River States Conference Tournament. The Cougars will begin play in Chillicothe Thursday.

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.