CHILLICOTHE, Ohio. - The IU Kokomo Baseball team had their 2025 season come to a close late Sunday night, dropping a 5-2 heart-breaker to Midway in a River States Conference Championship elimination game.

Having already beaten the Eagles of Midway four-times this season, including a regular season sweep on the road and another win in Thursday's opening round, the Cougars knew Sunday's fifth match-up with a gritty Eagles squad would be a tall task.

IU Kokomo and Midway were locked in a pitcher's duel for much of the night, as Cougar sophomore Koen Berry kept the Eagles scoreless for the opening six frames, while Midway starter Blake Kincaid allowed just one run in his seven innings of work.

After stranding a pair of base-runners in both the first and second innings, the Cougars manufactured the first run of the game in the third thanks to the top of the lineup. Alex Janke led off the frame with a single before advancing to second on a ground-out, scoring on a Mason Janz single up the middle for a 1-0 IUK lead thru three complete.

Both Berry and Kincaid breezed through the middle innings, with IU Kokomo still holding a narrow 1-0 lead heading into the seventh.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Midway's Britten Robinson drew a walk ahead of nine-hole hitter Grant Stone. Stone hit a towering shot down the left-field line off of the foul pole for a home-run, giving the Eagles their first lead of the game at 2-1. That proved to be the end of Berry's night, an unfortunate end to arguably his best collegiate outing. 

The Cougars failed to tie things up in the bottom of the seventh despite a Midway error in the inning, as the Eagles would add a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly.

Midway reliever Jackson Lee entered in the eighth and quickly recorded two outs prior to issuing a free pass to Payton Hankins. Brayden Coffey followed Hankins with a single to the shortstop, with pinch-hitter Anthony Nino being hit-by-pitch to load the bases and put the tying run on base with two outs. Lee pitched out of the jam however, keeping the 4-1 Eagle lead in tact.

Stone led off the top of the ninth with his second home-run of the game, adding another tally to extend the Midway lead to four at 5-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

With their backs against the wall and season on the line, the Cougars managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth.

Gavin Smith doubled down the left-field line with one away before Mason Janz reached via fielder's choice, as Midway was unable to record an out on the play. Kasey Ross came through with an RBI single thru the left side to make it 5-2 and bring the tying run to the plate, yet Lee tight-roped out of the inning to close out the 5-2 win for Midway.

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.