KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo baseball team trailed Trinity Christian College 8-5 entering the bottom half of the ninth inning, but a four-run frame, capped off by a Dylan Janke walk-off single, propelled the Cougars to a 9-8 victory.

Freshman RHP Koen Berry got the nod on the bump Thursday afternoon for the Cougars, his first collegiate start. The Trolls of Trinity Christian scored two in the first, but a Tucker Platt two-run jack evened the score 2-2 after an inning.

Trinity Christian scored four in their half of the second to take a 6-2 lead that would hold until the fourth. A two-run homer from the Trolls that just snuck over the right field fence extended their lead to six at 8-2 after three and a half. 

IU Kokomo eventually was able to chip away at the six-run deficit, beginning in the home half of the fifth. Platt doubled to open the frame and remained on second with two outs, but Jarod Gillespie came through with a two-out double, scoring Platt to make it 8-3 Trinity Christian.

The Cougs managed to add a single run in both the sixth and seventh innings, trailing 8-5 through seven complete. 

Dylan Steele led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single, before Mike Talesky followed with a single of his own. On the same play, a throwing error by the shortstop allowed each runner to advance, putting two Cougs in scoring position with no outs and the tying run at the plate.

Gillespie came through in the clutch again, this time with an RBI single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Gillespie's pinch runner Garrett Lupoi would steal second to put the tying run in scoring position. Caden Whitehead drew a walk to load the bases, before a balk advanced all runners and scored a run to make it 8-7.

After Jacob Medvescek drew a walk to load the bases once again, Dylan Janke was called upon to pinch hit. Janke was nails, singling to centerfield to score two for a 9-8 walk-off win over the Trolls of Trinity Christian.

Pitching Notables

• Berry left the game after 1.2 innings with a final line of six runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks. Jack Bruington relieved Berry in the second, allowing no runs on a hit and a free pass in 1.2 innings on the hill.
• Luke McDonald tossed the fourth and fifth for the Cougars, surrendering two earned runs on three hits, a walk, and a hit-batter.
• AJ Burkhalter was next in line for IU Kokomo, as he tossed 1.1 innings while allowing no runs on three hits and a pair of walks. Burkhalter pitched out of a jam in the top half of the sixth.
• Connor Hurt came on with one down in the seventh to record the final two outs of the inning. Hurt was perfect in his appearance.
• Blake Kimball was impressive and efficient in his inning of work in the eighth. Kimball worked quick, allowing two hits while also striking out a pair.
• Asa Christie picked up where Kimball left off in the ninth, striking out the side to put himself in line for the win. With the Cougars completing the comeback in the ninth, Christie earned the win to improve to 1-0 on the season.

The Cougars will head to Millington, Tennessee this weekend to play four neutral-site non-conference games against four different opponents. IUK's first game of the weekend is Saturday at 1:00 PM against IU South Bend.

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.