INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Indiana University Kokomo Baseball team continued their positive momentum Tuesday with a 9-5 road win at Marian (Ind.), the program's seventh win in their last eight games. Tuesday's match-up with the Knights was the first all-time between the two schools on the baseball diamond.

Tuesday's contest proved to be a bullpen game for both teams, as do most midweek games. Marian utilized nine different pitchers on the afternoon, while the Cougars employed six total arms.

The Cougars got the scoring started in the top of the first, pushing across a single run while stranding two to lead 1-0 early. IU Kokomo hurler Tyler Hensch was forced to leave the game due to injury in the home-half of the first, as the Knights got on the board.

Marian scored five-straight runs to lead 5-1 through three innings, scoring a pair in both the first and second before adding another in the third. That would be it for the Knights scoring-wise, as the Cougar bullpen was lights out for the final six frames.

IU Kokomo began to chip away at the deficit in the fourth, as Brayden Coffey drew a one-out walk and scored on a Noah Wolf double to left field, pulling the Cougs within three at 5-2.

Interim Head Coach Jeremy Honaker's squad exploded for a four-run fifth, taking a lead they would not relinquish. Mason Janz reached base via HBP to open the frame, eventually scoring on a Jacob Medvescek sacrifice-fly. 

Vince Alvarez reignited the inning by drawing a one-out walk, as Payton Hankins followed with a single before Coffey came through with an RBI double. An RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Luke Hanson scored Hankins, then Coffey would score on an Alex Janke sac-fly to make it 6-5 IUK.

Janz sparked the IUK offense once again in the sixth, doubling to left center and scoring on an Alvarez RBI single through the left side, giving the bullpen a two-run lead to work with.

IU Kokomo's final two runs of the contest came in the seventh, as Coffey singled before advancing to second via wild pitch, scoring on a Luke Hanson RBI single up the middle. Hanson's courtesy runner, Judah Hennessy, stole third after advancing to second on a groundout, scoring on a wild pitch to extend the Cougar lead to 9-5.

Pitching Notables:

• Logan Greer was the first man out of the pen for IU Kokomo Tuesday, entering in the top of the first due to injury. Greer allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out five in two and two-thirds innings of work.
• Jack Bruington proved to be the key cog in the IU Kokomo bullpen, turning in three dominant innings of relief to earn the win (1-0). Bruington surrendered no runs on a hit and a walk, inducing seven fly-outs.
• Asa Christie and Dylan Bryant were next in line out of the pen and both posted zero's without giving up a hit, looking dominant as they each faced four hitters.
• Freshman Kaleb Shelton was called upon once again to close the door on a victory, allowing one hit before posting a zero and getting the Cougars their fourth-straight victory.

The Cougars now return home for a three-game series with the Crimson Pride of IU Columbus Friday and Saturday. Due to impending weather, the DH is now set for Friday beginning at noon. Game three is set for 12:00 PM Saturday as of now.

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.