CHILLICOTHE, Ohio. - The IU Kokomo baseball team earned a second-consecutive win Friday over #1 seed Point Park in what turned out to be an 11-8 thriller that finished in the early hours of Saturday morning due to a rain delay.

The Cougars win Friday not only moves them one game away from a River States Conference Championship appearance, but it also served as head coach Drew Brantley's 100th career win as a collegiate head coach. Drew has amassed 86 wins at IU Kokomo and 14 as interim head coach at NCAA DIII Anderson University.

JT Holton got the start on the mound for IU Kokomo, tossing four innings and allowing four earned runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out five. Logan Greer would relieve Holton in the fifth and pitch two innings to earn the win, improving to 5-3 on the year.

The Cougars got the scoring started with a pair of runs in the top of the first, but the Pioneers responded immediately with two of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at two. IU Kokomo would score three in the third, as Alex Janke and Jacob Medvescek each homered in the inning.

After over an hour long rain delay, Jack Leverenz hit a three-run shot to give the Cougars some breathing room for the time being, as they led 8-3. The Cougars added three more in the fourth to make it an 11-4 game.

The two squads traded runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, before Point Park hung a crooked number in the sixth, scoring three.

Victor Fujiu entered the game with one out and two on, striking out two in a row to escape a jam. Asa Christie would do the same just an inning later, as he entered with the bases juiced and one away before striking out a pair to strand three. 

After a quick two outs in the top of the ninth, a well-timed offensive meeting led to a walk from Jarod Gillespie. Senior Dylan Steele then pinch-hit, making the most of the opportunity with a double off the centerfield wall, scoring one. Steele's pinch runner, Caden Whitehead would then score on a balk to make it an 11-8 IU Kokomo lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. 

With one out in the ninth, Thursday's starter Blake Kimball entered the game for IUK with runners on first and second. Kimball would strike out a man before inducing a ground-ball out to earn his second save of the year and clinch the win.

IU Kokomo will now play the winner of Saturday's 12:30 elimination game between #1 seed Point Park and #5 seed Oakland City at 7:30 PM Saturday night.

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.