STERLINGTON, La. - The IU Kokomo baseball team opened play at the 2025 Cajun Collision Friday, beating Nelson (Texas) 5-4 in game one before falling 9-5 to McPherson in the nightcap.

The Cougars will close out the weekend in Sterlington Saturday, facing off against #14 Central Methodist (11 AM CT/12 PM ET) and LSU Alexandria (6 PM CT/7 PM ET).

Game One: 5-4 Win

• Nelson got the scoring started in the first, pushing a single run across before JT Holton struck out three-straight to strand a pair of baserunners.
• IU Kokomo would get that run back in the ensuing frame, as Gavin Smith reached via error and scored on a Luke Hanson RBI single to even the score 1-1.
• The Lions would add a run in the third on a sacrifice fly, but the Cougars responded immediately once again. With two outs in the fourth, Hanson and Garrett Lupoi singled consecutively before Mason Janz came through with an RBI single, scoring Hanson's courtesy runner Judah Hennessy.
• The Cougars would take their first lead of the weekend in the fifth, scoring three runs on no hits and an error to take a 5-2 lead. Smith drew a bases loaded walk before a failed pickoff attempt resulted in two more IUK runners crossing the plate.
• Nelson pushed single runs across in the both the fifth and seventh, but their comeback bid fell short, as IU Kokomo closed out a 5-4 weekend opening victory.

Pitching Lines:

• Senior LHP JT Holton got the ball, earning his first win of the season with five strong innings. Holton allowed three earned runs on seven hits and no walks, striking out seven.
• Junior college transfer Brett Huiner shined in his two innings of relief, earning his first save as a Cougar. Huiner gave up one earned run on a hit and a walk, striking out one.

Game Two: 9-5 Loss

• McPherson jumped all over IU Kokomo in the top half of the first, plating seven runs on seven hits in the first inning for a commanding early lead.
• The Bulldogs starter struggled to find his command early and often, walking the first three IUK hitters he faced. Janz scored on a double-play ball before a Brayden Coffey RBI single plated Jacob Medvescek, cutting the deficit to five after one inning.
• McPherson added a run in the top-half of the third for an 8-2 lead, but Cougar Kasey Ross responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to make it an 8-4 ballgame.
• The Bulldogs final run of the night came in the fourth, extending the lead back to five.
• Despite only scoring one more run the remainder of the night, IU Kokomo had their chances late in the game. 
• The Cougs stranded the bases loaded in the sixth before bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, falling short in a 9-5 loss.

Pitching Lines:

• Logan Greer got the start and struggled to avoid the scoring McPherson bats, surrendering seven earned runs on six hits.
• All three IU Kokomo relievers turned in strong performances, starting with sophomore RHP Koen Berry. Berry struck out six while allowing a pair of earned runs on three hits in two and a third innings of work.
• LHP Dylan Bryant got the ball next, tossing two and a third of scoreless ball while allowing just one hit.
• Freshman Kaleb Shelton made his collegiate debut, entering with one out in the sixth and pitching an inning and two thirds. Shelton gave up a hit and a free pass while striking out a man, yielding no runs to the Bulldog offense.

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.