CHILLICOTHE, Ohio. - The IU Kokomo baseball team's season came to an end Friday afternoon, falling 12-9 to No. 5 seed Brescia in a River States Conference Tournament elimination game. The Cougars close the 2026 campaign with an overall record of 16-30.

FAST FACTS: 12-9 loss vs #5 seed Brescia

• LOCATION: VA Memorial Stadium | Chillicothe, Ohio
• UPDATED RECORDS: IU Kokomo 16-30; Brescia 23-20
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKING: IU Kokomo - N/A; Brescia - N/A

THE RUNDOWN

• Brescia struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch and a walk before pushing across a run on a fielder's choice to grab a 1-0 lead.
• IU Kokomo answered immediately in the second, manufacturing a three-run inning. Jack Taulman lifted a sac fly to tie the game before Noah Wolf ripped a two-run double down the line to put the Cougars in front 3-1.
• The Cougars added on in the third, as Max French delivered a sac fly to extend the lead to 4-1.
• Brescia got one back in the bottom half on a solo home run, but IU Kokomo continued to apply pressure.
• After a quiet stretch, the Cougars created separation in the sixth. A sacrifice bunt from Nate Montgomery and an RBI single from Rodney Rachel highlighted a two-run inning to make it 6-3.
• IU Kokomo added two more in the seventh, capitalizing on a Brescia error and small ball execution to build what appeared to be a comfortable 8-3 advantage.
• The game flipped in the bottom of the seventh, as Brescia erupted for seven runs on six hits, aided by multiple IU Kokomo errors. The Bearcats turned a five-run deficit into a 10-8 lead.
• The Cougars responded in the eighth, cutting into the deficit on a sacrifice fly from Rachel to make it 10-9.
• Brescia answered right back in the bottom half with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 12-9.
• IU Kokomo put the tying run on base in the ninth after a leadoff double from Max French, but Brescia was able to close the door and secure the 12-9 win.

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Noah Wolf - 1B, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI, R
• Rodney Rachel - 1B, 2B, 2 RBI, 
• Payton Hankins - 1B, 2B, BB, 2 R
• Max French - 1B, 2B, BB, RBI, R
• Luke Hanson - 1B, 2 BB
• Jack Taulman - 1B, BB, RBI
• Asa Christie - 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
• Jacob Forson - IP, H, 0 R, BB

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.