Copperheads Fall to Monarchs 8-5 After Rain-Delayed Two-Day Matchup
What started as a strong early performance from the Southern Ohio Copperheads unraveled late in a two-day matchup against the Michigan Monarchs, ending in an 8-5 loss Sunday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium.
The game began Saturday night and was suspended in the bottom of the third inning due to rain. Before the delay, the Copperheads jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, powered by back-to-back hits from Billy Adams and Will Heisler, followed by a two-RBI single from Derek Occhipinti and an RBI from Brendan Willadsen.
Starting pitcher Ben Bates held his own through the first three innings, recording four strikeouts and allowing just two runs. The Monarchs fought back with a run in the second and another in the third, narrowing the lead to 3-2 before the weather forced a second rain delay and eventual postponement.
The game resumed Sunday afternoon with Jacob Ruiz on the mound for the Copperheads and Ronnie Rowley stepping in for Occhipinti as first baseman. Ruiz held the Monarchs scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, racking up five strikeouts. In the bottom of the fourth, the Copperheads extended their lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Billy Adams delivered a clutch single into left center, scoring two and pushing the lead to 5-2.
But the momentum shifted in the top of the seventh. The Monarchs exploded for four runs off five consecutive hits, including RBI base hits from Wilkinson, McKinley, and Guzik. Reon Iwase stepped in to relieve Ruiz and stopped the bleeding with two quick outs, but the damage was done as the Monarchs led 6-5.
The Monarchs added two more insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Despite base hits from Frankie Clark and Case Sullivan in the eighth and solid fielding by the Copperheads in the ninth, the bats couldn’t come alive when it mattered most.
Adams had a standout day both offensively and defensively, with multiple putouts in the field and three RBIs. Clark added two hits on the day, and Bates and Ruiz combined for nine strikeouts over six innings of work.
The Copperheads will look to bounce back in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader.
By: Maggie Malone
