Hoping to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, the Jackrabbits fell just short on Monday night, losing 4-2 to the Madison Mallards in an extra-innings duel.

With the game tied 2-2 heading into the top of the 10th, Kokomo reliever Aidan Berggren committed a crucial error. With runners on first and second, Berggren fielded a ground ball but made an errant throw to third base, allowing Charlie Marion to score and give Madison a 3-2 lead.

As Marion crossed home plate, all positive momentum was halted, and Kokomo started to feel yet another winnable game slip away.

However, the blame is not solely on Berggren, as the Jackrabbits were unable to score another run after a two-run first inning. Before Madison scored the go-ahead run in extras, the Jackrabbits couldn’t add any insurance runs, leaving all the pressure on Kokomo’s bullpen to limit the Mallards’ late-game offense.

In the first inning, the Jackrabbits picked up where they left off after Sunday’s win, taking a 2-1 lead. A walk and a hit-by-pitch put both Luke Matthews and Jack Dupuis on base, allowing Georgia University product Lukas Farris to send a two-RBI single into right field.

With the score at 2-1 in Kokomo’s favor, both teams went on to pitch six straight shutout innings. Kokomo’s lead remained until the eighth inning, when Madison’s Charlie Marion led off with a base hit. Moments later, a series of wild pitches put Marion on third, and Frankie Carney tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to right.

Then, in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, the Jackrabbits needed just one run to seal the victory. Kokomo’s John Curl led off with a single to center, but when Bodee Wright pinch-ran for Curl, he was gunned down by catcher Will Vierling attempting to steal second base.

Aggressive base-running backfired on the Jackrabbits as Madison’s defense made all the right plays, leading to their 10th-inning road win and avoiding a two-game series sweep.

Following Monday’s 4-2 loss, the Jackrabbits are now 4-22 and will return to Kokomo Municipal Stadium for a two-game series against the Rockford Rivets, starting on Tuesday with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

Article written by Charlie Huiras