CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – No.1 IU Southeast captured the 2026 River States Conference Tournament Championship after a 5-4, extra innings win over No. 4 Shawnee State Sunday afternoon. The win caps off an undefeated run by the Grenadiers at the tournament and is their first RSC Tournament title since 2022.
Eli Laurent set the tone early on the mound for the Grenadiers. Shawnee State loaded the bases with no outs, but Laurent and the Grenadier defense stood tall. Bryson Arnette connected with Matt Santana for a 5-2 forceout at home for out number one, Laurent struck the next batter out, then Gabe Yonto caught a pop fly in right field to end the frame.
Shawnee State opened the scoring in the top of the second with an RBI single. One inning later, IU Southeast countered with two of their own. Kasen Parks recorded the Grenadiers' first hit of the game, stole second, then scored after Santana singled to left. A few batters later, Coulter Hamilton put IU Southeast ahead with a two-out, solo home run to left.
The Grenadiers' lead was short lived, as the Bears would tie the game in the top of the fourth. Two innings later, Arnette reached base via a one-out single, then scored after a pinch-hit two-out home run by Caden Lockwood.
The Bears made a push in the eighth and cut the Grenadiers' lead in half with an RBI single to right field. With one out and runners on first and second, Alston Whitworth minimized the damage with a strikeout and a pop up to Hamilton at first base.
Shawnee State would tie the game in the top of the ninth, then catch the Grenadiers in a double play to end the ninth, sending the game to extra innings. Jake Gothrup checked into the game in the tenth, giving the Grenadiers another chance to end it in the bottom of the tenth.
Arnette stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the tenth as the leadoff batter and ended it. With a 1-1 count, Arnette blasted a ball over the center field wall to win the game and the RSC Tournament Championship.
"I told the guys at the beginning of the year that any trophy they wanted could go out and get it. They got this one because of how hard they worked," said Head Coach Vinny Tornincasa following the Tournament Championship victory.
Next up for IU Southeast baseball is the opening round for the NAIA National Tournament. The Grenadiers will find out their destination for the opening round on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. ET for the NAIA Selection Show.
