Copperheads' staff tosses gem in series-clincher over Grand Lake

CELINA — A series is a series, no matter where you play the games.

After Southern Ohio opened up a three-game stint against Grand Lake with a six-run victory at home on Tuesday evening, the Copperheads quickly turned around and went back on the road to Celina to continue the series with the Mariners on Wednesday.

Arguably walking away with its best pitching performance of the season, Southern Ohio dominated from the first pitch en route to a 6-1 thrashing on the road to secure the series victory.

The Copperheads allowed just three hits in the win with Ben Bates dominating from the first pitch. The Adrian College product went 5.2 innings to secure the victory next to his name, allowing just one hit and run while striking out eight and walking five.

Landon Oliver tossed 2.1 innings of one-hit ball out of the bullpen, keeping the Mariners scoreless while striking out a pair and walking one. Aiden Cooney tossed a scoreless final inning in relief to finish off the night.

At the dish, it was yet another double-digit hit output for the Copperheads. Joey Canzoni had his best night of the summer with a perfect 4-4 day at the plate, reaching base five times on the day while driving in a pair and scoring one.

Trenton Neuer and Case Sullivan each had two-hit days while scoring a run while Hunter Strong finished with a hit and an RBI. Alex Ungar scored a run on one hit while Alejandro Covas drove in a run as well.

Following a scoreless opening frame where both teams went down in order, Southern Ohio first hit the scoreboard in the second. Canzoni opened up scoring with a solo shot, his first of the season, to give the Copperheads an initial lead.

Looking to blow this one wide open, Southern Ohio poured on another four runs in the following frame to grab a significant lead. Loading the bases up with just one out, Strong and Canzoni drew back-to-back walks to bring in the first two of the inning. Covas then smacked a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in the third run before an error by the Mariners defense allowed Strong to come in and make it a 5-0 game less than a third of the way through the matchup.

Southern Ohio’s offense went cold for the foreseeable future over the next few innings but the pitching performance kept them squarely with a comfortable lead. The Mariners’ lone run of the night came in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk. The Copperheads didn’t allow a runner to reach third base until the ninth inning after this.

The ‘Cheads tacked on a final insurance run in the eighth with an RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of Dunlap.