FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The IU Kokomo Baseball team secured their first ranked win under first-year skipper Kolin Conner Wednesday afternoon, as an explosive, 10-run seventh inning propelled the Cougars past #22 Indiana Tech. 

FAST FACTS: 18-7 win at #22 Indiana Tech

• LOCATION: Warrior Field | Fort Wayne, IN
• UPDATED RECORDS: IU Kokomo 14-18; Indiana Tech 22-13
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKING: IU Kokomo - N/A; Indiana Tech - #22

THE RUNDOWN

• Indiana Tech started the scoring in Wednesday's match up as Jorge Santana scored off a sacrifice fly in the home half of the first. 
• The Cougars responded in the third inning, as Jedvier Garcia led off the frame with a long solo home run to the deepest part of the park in left center. IU Kokomo added on another as they pulled off the first and third double steal that brought Nate Montogomery home with Rodney Rachel diving safely into second. Rachel would then come around to score on the very next pitch as Brock Taulman singled through the left side, giving IUK a 3-1 lead. 
• Indiana Tech would respond with a three-spot of their own in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead back 4-3, and the Warriors would extend that lead to 5-3 in the fourth inning. 
• The IUK offense would once again respond in the next half inning, as Rodney Rachel led off with a double, moved to third on an error, and then would score on a Noah Wolf sacrifice fly. Brock Taulman would continue the momentum with a single, and Corbin Napier and Caden Whitehead followed suit with singles of their own to load the bases. Jude Ruddy reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing Taulman to score, and Riley Sands would have the same fate as Napier came across as the Cougars took the lead back 6-5. 
• The Warriors came back with two of their own in the home half of the fifth to reclaim the lead at 7-6. 
• The Cougar offense went down in order in the sixth before exploding in the seventh. 
• Corbin Napier led things off with a single up the middle. Caden Whitehead was then plunked, and Jedvier Garcia was walked to load the bases with one out. In a pinch hit spot, Payton Hankins stepped to the plate and knocked in two runs with a single to center, and causing a Warrior pitching change. 
• After the change, the bats stayed hot as Rodney Rachel drew a walk to once again load the bases, and Noah Wolf drove in a pair with a single through the right side. Rachel would end up scoring and Wolf would advance to second on the play as well, as the throw trying to nail Rachel at third sailed over the third baseman. 
• Brock Taulman kept the rally going as he drove in Wolf with a single, and was followed by another single from Corbin Napier. A Caden Whitehead walk would once again load the bases for the Cougar offense, and Jude Ruddy would take advantage with a three RBI double into right center, forcing a second pitching change in the inning for the Warriors. 
• Jedvier Garcia greeted the new arm with an RBI single down the right field line, scoring Cam Howard, who was running for Ruddy, as the final of the Cougar's ten runs in the frame, giving them a 16-7 lead. 
• Owen Norris would shut down the side in order, before the Cougar offense would tack on two more in the eighth, thanks to RBI singles from Noah Wolf and Corbin Napier, putting the final score at 18-7. 

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Corbin Napier 4-5, RBI, 2 R
• Noah Wolf 3-5, 4 RBI, 2 R
• Jude Ruddy 2-5, 4 RBI, 2 2B
• Brock Taulman 3-4, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Jedvier Garcia 2-4, 2 RBI, HR, BB
• Payton Hankins 2-2, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Owen Norris (W, 3-4) 2.1 IP, 2 K

THE ROAD AHEAD

• Next Game - 4/10 @ West Virginia Tech | 3:00 PM EST
• Next Home Game - 4/14 vs (RV) Marian | 3:00 PM EST

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.