IU Southeast Defeats Rio Grande 8-3 to Advance To RSC Championship Game

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The IU Southeast baseball team defeated Rio Grande for the second time in as many days with a 8-3 win on Saturday to advance to the RSC Championship game.

The Grenadiers scored at least one run in each of the first six innings of the contest and scored in seven of their eight innings they batted.

IU Southeast fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first when Andrew Daria singled to drive in Angel De La Cruz from third.

The lead was short-lived as Alex Yurt led off with a double and, after the next two Grenadiers were retired, Kody Putnam drove him in with a RBI single to left field.

Brayden Hazelwood doubled and moved to third on wild pitch with one out in the second. He would score on a single by Blake Cook to give the Grenadiers the lead.

The RedStorm threatened to tie the game in third when Clayton Surrell led off with a base hit and stole second.

But starter Tyler Yotkewich stranded him there with a lineout and a pair of groundouts.

Mason White extended the IU Southeast lead in the bottom of the inning when he led off with a solo home run to right.

After a single and two walks loaded the bases in the fourth, White drew a walk to add to the IU Southeast lead.

After adding another run in the fifth, the Grenadiers put the game out of reach with a pair of runs in the sixth.

Trevor Campbell led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a throwing error.

A single by Trevor Goodwin drove in Putnam later in the inning.

Rio Grande had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh but Yotkewich struck out Surrell for the second out of the inning.

A two-run single by De La Cruz followed to cut the lead to 7-3.

Gavin Knust worked the final two innigs of the game and allowed just one walk while striking out three.

Trevor Campbell was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Brayden Hazelwood, Blake Cook and Slater Schield each had two hits and Mason White drove in a pair.

Tyler Yotkewich worked seven innings for his eighth win. He allowed three runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out three.

IU Southeast will face Point Park Sunday at 11 a.m. with an "if necessary' game to follow in the RSC Championship. One win for IU Southeast will clinch the tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament.