Grenadiers Open Weekend Series With 11-9 Win Over IU Kokomo

NEW ALBANY, Ind. -The IU Southeast baseball team won 11-9 against IU Kokomo on Friday, the first of three games between the teams this weekend.

IU Southeast jumped out in front in the bottom of the second inning. Ben Berenda launched a two-run home run to right field to put the Grenadiers ahead 2-0.

IU Kokomo led off the top of the fourth with a single, a hit by pitch and a bunt hit to load the bases with no outs. A single to left field by Luke Barnes tied the game 2-2, and a double to right center gave the Cougars a 4-2 lead. A single through the left side extended the lead to 5-2.

The Grenadiers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with two outs. Alex Yurt drew a walk to bring home a run, and a wild pitch brought in another run to make it 5-4. A two-run single by Trevor Campbell gave IU Southeast a 6-5 advantage.

A fielder's choice in the top of the sixth inning allowed IU Kokomo to tie the game 6-6. The Cougars took a 7-6 lead in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Jared Gillespie. A groundball hit to shortstop took a tough hop, allowing the Cougars to take an 8-6 advantage. A fielder's choice brought in another run to give IU Kokomo a 9-6 edge.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ben Berenda singled through the left side to narrow the deficit to 9-7. Another run scored when Kody Putnam took home when IU Kokomo tried to throw out a runner at second base. Trevor Goodwin tied the game 9-9 on an RBI single through the right side. Brayden Hazelwood gave IU Southeast the lead on an RBI double to the center field wall, scoring Trevor Goodwin from first after a heads up slide to evade the catcher's tag.

IU Southeast took an 11-9 lead in the bottom of the eighth on a throwing error by IU Kokomo. In the top of the ninth, the Grenadiers turned to Conner Fries to close the game. The Cougars loaded the bases, but Fries escaped the jam to secure an 11-9 victory for IU Southeast.

Zak Rasener picked up the win for IU Southeast after coming in and finishing the seventh inning. Conner Fries picked up his first save of the season. Ben Berenda drove in three runs on three hits in the contest, including a two-run home run deep to right field. Trevor Campbell had two hits and two RBIs in the game as well.

IU Southeast (5-11, 2-2 RSC) hosts a doubleheader against IU Kokomo on Saturday at noon.