XENIA, Ohio – The Xenia pitching staff gave up nine hits and a season-high 13 walks as the Southern Ohio copperheads shut out the Scouts by a 9-0 final Friday night at Grady’s Field.
Xenia starting pitcher Garrick Whittle got out of back-to-back bases loaded, one-out situations to start the game, but was not so luck in the third inning as Southern Ohio tallied the first run of the game.
Whittle (3-2) walked five batters and hit one while giving up just one hit through 2 1/3 innings.
The night would not get any easier for the Scouts pitching staff as four relievers combined to finish out the final 6 2/3 innings giving up eight more walks no go along with eight hits for eight runs.
The offensive star of the night for the Cooperheads would go to Mike August, who was 4-for-6 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Jared Hook was also a juggernaut at the plate going 1-for-2 with two runs, three RBIs and four walks.
The offensive for the Scouts, which started out hot, was non-existent after a 39-minute rain delay began in the bottom of the first when Xenia collected a pair of hits with one out against Southern Ohio starter Andrew Waszak.
After the rain delay commenced, Montgomery Porter took to the mound and was very effective going 4 1/3 innings with four hits with three strikeouts.
Bryce Lahrman (2-0) would close out the game to collect the win for the Copperheads as he tallied four innings of no-hit ball with three walks and eight strikeouts.
With the win, Southern Ohio (20-12) pushes their lead in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League South Division to a game and a half over the Scouts, who are now tied with Hamilton for third place in the division.
Xenia (20-15) will now have the weekend off before heading to Southern Ohio on Monday for a make-up game from earlier this season before returning back to Grady’s Field for yet another game against the Copperheads.
