KOKOMO, Ind. - After a slow start to Saturday's doubleheader, the IU Kokomo Baseball team eventually picked up where they left off in Friday's series opening run-rule victory, notching 4-3 and 11-2 wins to close out a three-game sweep of River States Conference foe, WVU Tech.

Game One: 4-3 Win

• WVU Tech got on the board first with three runs in the second, scoring those runs on three hits and an error to take an early lead.
• IU Kokomo was next to find the scoreboard, finally pushing a run across the plate in the home-half of the fifth. Kasey Ross and Vince Alvarez singled to lead off the inning before Luke Hanson successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Noah Wolf came through with an RBI groundout to second, just missing a two-run single up the middle.
• Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Interim Head Coach Jeremy Honaker's squad cut their deficit in half with another run. Ross once again singled up the middle, with Judah Hennessy entering as a pinch runner. Hennessy would advance to second on another Alvarez RBI single before taking third and scoring on a passed ball that led to an overthrow.
• The Cougars failed to pull even in the eighth, and entered the bottom of the ninth with their backs against the wall. Gavin Smith reached via base on balls to open the frame ahead of Payton Hankins, who reached on an E6, giving IUK runners at first and second with nobody out.
• Ross continued his strong game at the plate, this time sacrificing an at-bat in order to advance the runners with a successful sac-bunt. Having already recorded a pair of hits, Alvarez was intentionally walked to load the bases and setup a double-play opportunity. After working the count, Hanson was hit-by-pitch, allowing the tying run to cross the plate.
• With Wolf at the plate for IU Kokomo with one out and a chance to win it, the WVU Tech pitcher was called for a balk, allowing Hankins to advance 90 feet and give the Cougars a rare walk-off balk victory.

Pitching Notables:

• AJ Burkhalter got the start in game one of Saturday's doubleheader for IU Kokomo and tossed five innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks, striking out five. Burkhalter took the no-decision.
• Sophomore RHP Alec Murphy entered ahead of the sixth, delivering a stellar performance in relief of his classmate. Murphy turned in four innings of scoreless ball, earning his first win of the season. He allowed just two hits and two free passes while striking out three.

Game Two: 11-2 Win

• After a scoreless first inning, IU Kokomo got the ball rolling in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs on five hits. None other than Kasey Ross and Vince Alvarez led off the inning with hits, staying scorching hot for the weekend. Anthony Nino, Alex Janke, and Mason Janz each recorded hits in the inning as well, as the Cougs took command of the game early.
• IUK added another run in the third, as Payton Hankins led off the inning with a base-hit. Hankins would eventually score an unearned run after crossing the plate thanks to a Golden Bear throwing error.
• Trailing 5-0 through three complete, WVU Tech pushed their first run across in the fourth, cutting the deficit to four halfway through the seven-inning contest.
• The Cougars got that run and more back in the home-half of the frame, as Janke opened the inning with a triple before scoring two batters later on an RBI ground-out off the bat of Jacob Medvescek. Janke initially avoided the catchers tag at the plate, but had to dive back and touch home, allowing Janz (BB) to advance to third with the catcher's attention elsewhere. Janz would score on a Gavin Smith sac-fly, extending the IUK lead to six at 7-1.
• IU Kokomo's final four runs of the game came in the fifth, hanging a four-spot to make it a double-digit lead for the time being. Ross and Alvarez once again walked to leadoff the frame, both scoring on a Nino two-RBI two-bagger. Medvescek followed three batters later with a two-RBI double of his own, making it two games on the weekend with multiple RBI.
• Needing 10 to tie with six outs remaining, WVU Tech mustered just one run across the final two innings, allowing the Cougars to take the series finale 11-2 to complete the series sweep.

Pitching Notables: 

• All three Cougars who saw time on the mound in the series finale turned in solid performances, closing the books on the strongest weekend of the year for the IU Kokomo pitching staff. 
• Mason Whiteley earned the nod for IUK, throwing five strong innings of one-run ball to earn the win and improve to 2-2 on the year. He allowed five hits and four free passes while striking out a pair.
• Veteran left-handed reliever Nathan Stanley was IUK's first man out of the pen to open the sixth, allowing one earned run on three hits in his lone inning of work.
• Freshman RHP Kaleb Shelton entered to pitch the seventh, retiring the Golden Bears in order with two strikeouts.

The Cougars will return to action at Kokomo Municipal Stadium this Tuesday and Wednesday for a pair of midweek games, the first home midweeks of the season. Georgetown (Ky.) will visit Tuesday for a 3:00 PM start before (RV) Indiana Tech comes to town Wednesday for a 4:00 PM first pitch.

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.