The Kokomo Post Sports - Game of the Week: Kokomo VS Northwestern Baseball (Photo Gallery)
Rivalry games often bring out the best in athletes, and Friday’s matchup was no exception. Northwestern delivered a complete team performance in a 10-2 win over Kokomo, creating lasting memories with a dominant effort from start to finish.
The Tigers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.
Hayden Cook set the tone on the mound, striking out the final two batters in the first inning to cap a strong opening frame.
Kokomo starter Miles Cunningham ran into early trouble, walking the first two batters of the game. Both came around to score on Nate Correll’s two-run single, giving Northwestern a 2-0 lead after the first.
The Wildkats answered in the second. Jonathan Frye scored on Cameron Parks’ RBI single, cutting the deficit to one. But Cook shut the door again, striking out the final batter of the inning.
Cook remained steady through the middle innings, striking out one batter in each of the second, third, and fourth innings while allowing just one hit during that stretch.
Northwestern broke the game open in the fourth. A walk by Karaon Griggs and back-to-back bunts by Jax Hanson and Kade Dill loaded the bases. Griggs scored on Michael Arrick’s RBI single, and Hanson, Dill and Arrick all crossed home plate during the four-run frame to make it 6-1.
Kokomo added another run in the fifth when Logan Dockemeyer drove in Parks with an RBI single. That prompted a pitching change, as sophomore Ayden Giles came on in relief. He needed just one batter to end the inning, inducing a groundout.
Cook finished with 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out six.Chase DeWitt followed in relief with a closer’s mentality, striking out three of the four batters he faced in the sixth.
Northwestern added four more runs in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on two Kokomo errors to stretch the lead to 10-2.
DeWitt returned to the mound in the seventh and retired the side in order, striking out one to seal the win.
Northwestern (11-4) will be back in action Monday, May 5, with a road game at Northfield (4-9). First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. Kokomo (8-5) returns to play Saturday, May 3, with a tough road test against 10-4 Huntington North.
