With the bases loaded, the game tied at 5-5, and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kokomo’s Luke Matthews took matters into his own hands and won the game with a walk-off stolen base.

The winning run just 90 feet away and Kokomo on the verge of a three-run ninth inning comeback, Matthews perfectly timed up the catcher’s throw back to the mound, and slid under the tag to seal the victory.

Moments after Matthews was deemed safe, the Jackrabbits dugout jumped over the railing, and delivered Matthews a classic celebratory ice bath with the man of the hour. 

“I was timing up the catcher the last two times I was on third base and I finally found a good pitch to do it,” Matthews said. “We’re coming together much better as a team, we’re playing better baseball and keeping it up everyday so it’s been fun to go out and win ball games.”

Matthew’s heroic play to steal home was set up by plate discipline, and timely hitting. The Jackrabbits entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 5-3, but drew three walks and a hit by pitch to keep the bases loaded. 

Before Kokomo’s walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth, Kenosha scored three runs in the top to go up 5-3. Collin Schuchart sent a clutch RBI double into left-center field after a Kokomo pitching change to make the score 5-4.

Then, with the bases loaded Jackrabbit reliever Aidan Berggren walked in both Karter Wong and Brandon Nigh, leaving Kokomo with a manageable two-run deficit. 

With Kokomo’s three game win streak in trouble, the Jackrabbits believed in their same principles since the start and are now winners of four straight. 

“I’m optimistic these guys are starting to get it, they’re starting to learn the game and you can tell that there’s not quit in them today,” Jackrabbits manager Johnston Hobbs said. 

The Jackrabbits, now winners of four straight, will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to cap off their five-game series.