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BOB WREN STADIUM -- It was a defensive filled outing for both teams when the Cincinnati Steam and the Southern Ohio Copperheads battled on Friday night, with Southern Ohio falling 3-2.

 

Both teams received great outings from their starting pitchers, with both only allowing one earned run before they were pulled. Bobby Spencer (Towson University) was excellent once again, tossing six innings as he struck out nine and allowed four hits and the one run. Calvin Mitchell (Wright State University) only allowed two hits as he threw five innings for the Steam.

 

The difference was the bullpens, and Cincinnati received a massive relief outing from Jared Kloth (Wheaton College) who tossed four innings to pick up the win. He struck out four batters while only allowing four hits, surrendering just one run as he finished the game for the Steam.

 

Jake Agarwal (Bellarmine University) had a good day at the dish for the Cheads, slashin 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jack Dupuis (Olivet Nazarene University) added a two-hit game as well, while Brayden Hazelwood (Indiana University Southeast) contributed an RBI.

 

Cincinnati’s offense was led by the top of their order, with Harrison Barnes (Tuskegee University), Gus Gregory (Wright State University) and Sean Springer (University of Cincinnati) each contributing multi-hit games. Barnes and Springer also tallied an RBI apiece, while Gregory scored a run.

 

Southern Ohio got the scoring started early with a run in the bottom of the second to give them a quick lead.

 

Sebastian Silva (Lake Erie College) drew a walk to get a runner on before Agarwal’s first double of the game put runners on second and third. A groundout from Hazelwood brought Silva across home plate, giving the Cheads a 1-0 lead.

 

It stayed that way for a long while, before the Steam finally got one on Spencer in the top of the sixth inning. Gregory reached on a single before stealing second, and a subsequent single from Springer scored him and leveled the game at one all.

 

The Copperheads fired right back with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back singles from Caden Crawford (University of Evansville) and Keaton Ference (Seminole State College) put runners on first and second before Agarwal’s second double of the game scored Crawford, restoring the Southern Ohio lead.

 

Almost like a game of ping-pong, the Steam responded in the top of the seventh to level the game once again. Facing two outs, two straight walks gave Barnes runners on first and second before he knocked in a bloop single to score a run and tie the game at 2-2.

 

Southern Ohio couldn’t volley back in the top of the eighth, and the Steam took advantage with their third straight scoring frame in the bottom of the inning.

 

A leadoff single from Springer saw a runner on before pinch-hitter Hayden Christiansen (Xavier University) launched a double into the gap in left-center to bring Springer home, giving the Steam their first lead of the night at 3-2.

 

The Cheads couldn’t muster a run in response from that point on, and two straight strikeouts from Kloth in the bottom of the ninth sunk Southern Ohio and cemented the 3-2 score final.

 

Southern Ohio’s losing streak now sits at four games as the team falls to 7-17 on the season. Cincinnati improves to 12-14 with the close victory.

 

It will be an off weekend for the Copperheads before they return to action next week for six games in as many days, all of which will be at home. 

 

The opportunity to end the streak and tally some more wins will begin with a home tilt against the Richmond Jazz on Tuesday, July 10. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.