NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast baseball team took over sole possession of first place in the River States Conference after a Saturday doubleheader sweep of IU Kokomo 4-3 and 6-0.
In game one, IU Kokomo opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Jared Heard doubled and Austin Weiler followed with a RBI single.
The Grenadiers (26-11, 14-4 RSC) took a 3-1 lead with three runs in the second. Jordan Branz led off with a double and Dalton Mitchell followed with a walk. Tyler Mills loaded the bases when he was hit and Daunte Decello followed with a two-run single. Then Clay Woeste drove in Mills with a single.
IU Kokomo (25-11, 13-5 RSC) got a run back when Heard grounded out to second to score Dalton Clarke.
The Cougars rallied to tie the game in the ninth. After a walk and a balk, IU Kokomo had a runner in scoring position and Tavon Lindsey came through with a RBI single to score Mark Goudy.
But IU Southeast responded in the bottom of the frame. Clay Woeste led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild throw by Caleb Matthews. Santrel Farmer bunted and reached on a base hit to put runners on the corners and Cody Maloon was intentionally walked to load the bases for Brody Tanksley. He popped out to first for the first out of the inning.
Jordan Branz followed and ripped a line drive single to left on a 3-2 pitch to win it.
Clay Woeste had three hits and Santrel Farmer and Jordan Branz each had two hits in the win.
IU Southeast starter Jack Wohlert scattered six hits and gave up two runs in seven and two-thirds innings of work. He walked a pair and struck out six. Andrew Yates got the win.
In game two, the Grenadiers jumped out to a quick lead with a pair of runs in the second inning. Brody Tanksley and Branz had back-to-back singles and then Dalton Mitchell recorded a RBI single. Later in the inning, Daunte Decello hit a RBI single to score Branz.
The Grenaiders took control of the game with a three-run outburst in the third. Jordan Branz doubled to left to score Derek Wagner and Tyler Mills. Then Mitchell followed with a RBI single to score Branz.
Daunte Decello led off the fourth with a single, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0.
That was enough for Kyle Hawkins who deleivered a complete-game, three-hit shutout for his fourth win of the year.
Derek Wagner, Dalton Mitchell and Brody Tanksley each had three hits in the win.
IU Southeast travels to Lindsey Wilson College Monday at 6 p.m.
