CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The No.18-ranked IU Southeast baseball team defeated IU Kokomo 8-4 to advance to the winner's bracket final of the 2021 River States Conference Baseball Championship.

The Grenadiers (42-13) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Clay Woeste singled and moved to third on a single by Brody Tanksley. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Derek Wagner.

But the Cougars (28-20) answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. With runners at second and third with one out, Austin Weiler hit a two-run single to right to give IU Kokomo the lead.

It was short-lived as the Grenadiers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame with a two-out rally.

Back-to-back walks to Derek Wagner and Ben Berenda got the rally started, Jake Scott followed with a sharp single to left to tie the game. Then Drew Hensley followed with the go-ahead single.

IU Southeast tacked on four more insurance runs in the seventh. Daunte DeCello drove in Tyler Mills on a fielder's choice. Then Scott scored on a wild pitch and Clay Woeste drove in DeCello with RBI single.

John Ullom capped the rally with a RBI triple to score Woeste.

The Cougars cut the deficit to 8-4 in the ninth and loaded the bases with two out but Jacob Frankel struck out Mark Goudy to end the game and earn his third save.

Trevor Reynolds (7-1) worked three innings of relief and allowed one unearned run on four hits for the win. Starter Hunter Kloke was solid allowing two runs, one earned on six hits in four and two-thirds innings. He struck out seven.

Clay Woeste was 3-for-5 with two runs scored an RBI in the win. Drew Hensley had two hits and drove in two and Brody Tanksley and Jake Scott each had two hits.

IU Southeast will face the winner of Asbury-Point Park Saturday at 11 am.