CINCINNATI – Matt Thompson’s three-run home run with two outs in the top of the third proved to be the game winning hit as Xenia defeated the Cincinnati Steam 6-3 Friday night at the McCarthey Athletic Complex at Western Hills High School.
Thompson’s home run gave the Scouts (23-17) a 6-1 lead and was the second home run of the summer for the Southlake, Texas, native.
Cincinnati (21-19) would rally for a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to cut it to the final margin of 6-3, but the Xenia pitching staff of Garrick Whittle, Dan Weigel and Matthew Addis combined to shut out the Steam over the final six stanzas.
Whittle (4-2) got the win while going six innings with four strikeouts, six hits and two walks. The win ties Whittle with John LaCorte (2009) current teammate Tyler Smith for the most wins in Xenia Scouts history.
Weigel tossed a scoreless seventh inning before Addis recorded the save with only one batter reaching on an error for the Scouts, who drew even at 4-4 this season after dropping the first four contests against the Steam.
Xenia got on the board first with a three-spot in the top of the first inning beginning with Caleb Palensky’s double down the left-field line scored Eddie Young, who led off the game with a single.
Matt Calhoun walked and Andrew Geenen sacrificed Palensky and Calhoun over a base to set up Taylor Kaprive, who sent a shot to right-field that brought both runners.
Cincinnati would tally its first run in the bottom of the second when Mark Elwell’s RBI single plated Zac Asman from third.
Both the Scouts and Steam have clinched a spot in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League post-season tournament, but each team is still fighting for seeding rights.
The Scouts moved into second place in the South Division with the win and the Hamilton Joes losing to Lexington by a 7-4 final. With a win Saturday night at Lexington, the Scouts will clinch a first-round home game against either the Joes or the Steam.
First pitch between the Scouts and the Hustlers will take place at 6:05 p.m. from the Lexington Catholic High School Baseball Field.
