News

Cheads lose heartbreaker as Steam score seven in the ninth

 

Heading into the top of the ninth, the Copperheads seemed to have the game well in hand. They had a six-run lead and were only three outs away from victory.

 

The Cincinnati Steam (4-4) then went on to score seven runs and complete the comeback to secure a 9-8 win over Southern Ohio (3-5).

 

Coach Austin Dunfee knows that the Copperheads overflowing with youth this season, and the lack of experience that comes with that will lead to growing pains like Wednesday’s game.

 

“We got a lot of young guys on our team who haven’t seen a situation like that, where a game can start to become close that quickly,” Dunfee said. “They just need to stay ready and I think we’ll learn from this.”

 

Offensively, Southern Ohio had one of its best performances of the season, as multiple hitters contributed and it led to the team putting up eight runs.

 

Leading the way was Chris Gambert, as he went 3-4 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Ben Rushing also had a solid day, going 2-5 with two runs scored.

 

Dunfee liked how his hitters were approaching their at-bats in the loss against the Steam, as offensive consistency has been something he has been looking for since the season started.

 

“They had a plan,” he said. “They were attacking balls early in the game tonight, they got pitches they liked and they drove them.”

 

Zach Iverson, usually an infielder for the Copperheads, got the nod to start on the mound and pitched six innings of great baseball, striking out eight batters while only allowing one runs on six hits and only walking one.

 

Iverson’s strong performance did not go unappreciated by Dunfee, especially with Southern Ohio low on pitchers in the 2019 season.

 

“With (Iverson) not being a pitcher by trade, him chewing up six innings was incredible,” he said. “He saved our pitching staff, coming in a tough spot, battling the rain all day long...Unbelievable feat for him out there on the mound, and, man, I couldn’t ask for any more.”

 

The Copperheads will get the chance to avenge Wednesday’s loss and win their first series of the season as they play the Steam one more time at Bob Wren Stadium. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.