Eight-run first fuels Southern Ohio in dominant victory over Michigan

If you score eight runs in an inning, more often than not you’re going to end up winning the baseball game. While finding out that’s not exactly true on Friday, Southern Ohio went back to that playbook on Saturday and found just a bit more success.

Scoring an absurd eight runs in the first inning alone, Southern Ohio jumped ahead early and eventually ran away with a 13-7 win over Michigan on Saturday evening to even up the weekend series. The Copperheads needed just 11 hits to get the 13 runs, taking advantage of six walks and two hit by pitches on the night.

The top two hitters in Southern Ohio’s lineup combined for four hits, four RBIs and three runs on the night. Charlie Longmeier finished 2-5 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs out of the leadoff spot while Adams tallied two hits and runs driven in right behind him. Case Sullivan also brought in two runs on a pair of hits in the nine-spot of the order.

Hunter Strong also brought in two runs on two hits while Ben Clark had a hit and an RBI. Joey Canzoni finished with a hit and an RBI while Aiden Dunlap grabbed the only other hit while also scoring two runs.

On the mound, five different pitchers went out in a total team effort. Mike DiForte got the initial nod to start but lasted just two innings, allowing four hits and earned runs, striking out three while walking two. Ethan Stewart, the Ohio University and Meigs High School product, picked up the win in his first action of the summer with four innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out three and walking none.

Jaren Slusher and Clay Clatterbaugh then each threw an inning of relief to cap off the night.

Southern Ohio needed to send just 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning to create the absurd eight-run frame and take a significant lead just six outs into the night.

After the first two batters reached base, the first run of the night came in on an error from Michigan’s defense just before a two-out RBI single from Clark stretched the lead to three. The Copperheads got two more across on a bases-loaded walk and a passed ball before a two-run double off the bat of Longmeier had Southern Ohio’s dugout rocking.

Adams capped off the festivities with an RBI single to score Longmeier, making it a 8-0 game going into the second. Though, anything can happen in baseball.

In a bit of a shock, it took Michigan less than three outs to suddenly make this a close-enough game. Getting three hits and taking advantage of an error from the Copperheads’ defense, the Monarchs responded with a five-run inning of their own in the top of the second to instantly make it a manageable three-run game.

Luckily enough, the bats stayed hot for the Copperheads in the following frame to create a bit more breathing room. RBI singles from Canzoni and Sullivan made it a 10-5 game just 12 outs into the night.

Michigan tacked on one more in the next inning but from there, things went silent on both sides over the next few innings. Southern Ohio would hold that 10-6 lead all the way into the seventh before breaking through once again.

In the bottom of that frame, the ‘Cheads loaded the bases up with no outs before an RBI single from Adams brought in the first run. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Covas brought in another before an error from Michigan’s pitcher allowed the final run of the frame to come home.

Holding a seven-run lead at the time, the Copperheads allowed one more in the eighth but it was hardly a worry at all as the team eventually shut things down in a much-needed bounceback victory.