CHILLICOTHE, Ohio. - The IU Kokomo Baseball team returned to action at the 2025 River States Conference Baseball Championships Friday, falling to 25th-ranked Oakland City 20-5 in seven innings to fall to the loser's bracket.

The Cougars and Bearcats of Brescia began play at 5:43 PM Friday evening before another lightning delay struck at 6:42 PM, as IU Kokomo led Brescia 9-0 thanks to eight second inning runs. Brescia and IU Kokomo will return to VA Memorial Stadium to finish the tournament's first elimination game at 9:00 AM, having played three complete innings with the game set to resume in the beginning of the fourth.

20-5 Loss to #25 Oakland City

• The first-seeded Mighty Oaks jumped on the Cougars early, scoring four times with two outs in the top of the first to set the tone.
• Oakland City added five more in the second on four hits for a commanding 9-0 lead. 
• IU Kokomo got on the board in the home-half of the second, as Payton Hankins singled to left, scoring both Mason Janz (1B) and Gavin Smith (HBP).
• The Mighty Oaks pushed five runs across the plate once again in the third, before scoring their final six runs of the game in the fourth, leading 20-2 through four complete.
• Jacob Medvescek led off the top of the fifth with a solo-shot to left-field, making it 20-3.
• The Cougars struck for two more in the sixth via a Gavin Smith two-run homer, but it proved to be too late, as #25 Oakland City cruised to a 20-5 victory.

Pitching Notables:

• Caden Whitehead made his collegiate pitching debut, tossing a pair of scoreless frames while allowing just one hit, inducing three fly-outs and three ground-outs.

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.