KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The No. 19-ranked IU Southeast baseball team opened KIAC Tournament play with a 7-3 win over Brescia on Wednesday.

The Grenadiers (39-11) opened the game with a two-run first inning. Matt Volz singled to left-center and Logan Coughlin followed with a ground-rule double to left-center.

Kyle Asher hit a two-run single to left to give the Grenadiers a 2-0 lead.

Brescia (11-42) answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Tanner Tow doubled to right-center to score JaQuan Jones. Later, Shawn Callis hit an RBI single to left to bring in Tow.

The game remained tied until the fifth when IU Southeast went back in front with a two-out rally. Clay Benefield was hit by a pitch and Tyler Adams reached on a walk. Logan Barnes followed with a single to center to bring in Benefield. Jones bobbled the ball in center which allowed Adams to score.

In the bottom of the inning, Kenny Rideout hit a solo home run down the left field line to cut the lead to 4-3.

The Grenadiers, the top seed in the tournament, added three more runs with two outs in the eighth. Zach Reboulet singled and pinch runner Brad Walker scored on a double from Trent Simpson. Jordan Branz, pinch running for Simpson, scored on a RBI single from Matt Volz. Volz advanced to third on an error and scored on an RBI single from Logan Coughlin.

Ty Simpson got the win in relief. He worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up a run on five hits while striking out two.

The Grenadiers advance to the 3 p.m. game on Thursday. They will face the loser of the Rio Grande-Point Park contest.