SHREVEPORT, La. – The Indiana University Kokomo baseball team opened its 2022 season on Saturday, taking on No. 10 Louisiana Shreveport. The Cougars dropped the first game of the day, 6-0 before coming from behind in game two, winning 10-6, to earn the split against the Pilots. The win in game two marks the program's first-ever win over a top-10 team and also the first win for head coach
Drew Brantley.
Game One Recap
In their season-opening game against the Pilots, the Cougar offense struggled against LSU Shreveport starter, Bobby Vath. The right-hander retired the first nine IU Kokomo hitters in order.
The Pilots plated a run in the home half of the first and added three more in the second to take a 4-0 lead over the Cougars. A run in the fourth made it 5-0.
IU Kokomo saw its first runner reach base in the top half of the fourth when
Riley Garczynski drew a one-out walk. With two outs,
Noah Hurlock singled to put Cougars on first and second.
Dylan Steele flied out to right field to end the inning and leave two runners stranded. Hurlock's single turned out to be the lone hit for the Cougars in the loss.
LSU Shreveport added another run in the fifth to go ahead, 6-0, which turned out to be the final.
Owen Callaghan got the start on the mound for the Cougars. Callaghan went 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on six hits.
Garrison Brege threw a scoreless inning and two-thirds, striking out two Pilot batters.
Game Two Recap
In the nightcap, the Cougars' bats got going as the offense produced 10 runs on nine hits. IU Kokomo rallied in the top of the seventh inning, scoring six runs to complete the come-from-behind victory over the Pilots.
LSU Shreveport took advantage of three walks in the home half of the second inning, taking an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third frame,
Bryce Lenz got things going with a one-out walk. After a flyout, Lenz moved into scoring position when he stole second.
Dylan Janke then reached after he was hit by a pitch, putting Cougars at first and second with Garczynski coming to the plate. Garczynski singled, scoring Lenz, and Janke would cross the plate after an error by the Pilots catcher, giving IUK a 2-1 advantage.
The IU Kokomo lead was short-lived as the Pilots plated four runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead, making it a 5-2 game.
Hurlock led off the fourth inning with a single and would move up 90 feet on a groundout by
Dylan Steele. With one out and a runner on second, the duo of
Luke Barnes and
Luke Hanson would strike. Barnes tripled to centerfield, scoring Hurlock. Hanson followed up the triple with a single of his own, scoring Barnes and bringing the Cougars within a run of the Pilot lead.
Ethan Leslie came on in relief in the top of the fourth inning for the Cougars. Leslie had shaky start to the inning, giving up a run, but settled in to strike out three straight Pilot batters to end the inning and leave two runners on base.
The score remained 6-4 in favor of the host Pilots until the top of the seventh inning.
Sean Becker and Janke both were hit by pitches to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt from Garczynski,
Patrick Mills singled to right field, scoring Becker and pinch runner
Tahj Borom to tie things at six. After a walk by
Jarod Gillespie, Steele singled to centerfield to score
Thomas Obergfell who came on to pinch run for Janke. Gillespie advanced to third on the play. Gillespie scored on the next play as the Pilot shortstop mishandled a slow roller. Tucker Pratt came on to pinch hit with runners at first and second, loading the bases for Becker. Becker singled to left field to score Hanson and Steele and put the Cougars up 10-6. Becker was thrown out at second on the play to end the inning.
Ryan Beck came on out of the bullpen to close out the game for the Cougars. Beck faced four hitters and gave up just one hit to seal the first win of the season for IU Kokomo.
Sam Hinshaw earned the win on the mound for IUK as the sophomore tossed a perfect inning in relief.
Mills and Steele each finished with two hits while Steele and Becker each drove in a pair of runs.
Up Next
The Cougars will return to action tomorrow at Pilot field as they take on No. 12 Loyola University New Orleans. First pitch of the doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET
