Athens, OH. - The Cincinnati Steam traveled to Ohio University to face the Southern Ohio Copperheads in a twi-night doubleheader this past Saturday night starting at 5:35pm

In game one the Steam started off strong scoring in the top of the first capitalizing off a Copperhead miscue. Leadoff hitter Kory Lonergan reached on a throwing error, which allowed him to move all the way to second. Lonergan reached third on a groundout by 2^nd baseman Steve Brown. Designated Hitter Josh Harrison drove in Lonergan with a sacrifice fly to put the Steam up 1-0 after the top of the first.

The Copperheads started their half of the first off strong as well but after a leadoff hit, the next 3 hitters made outs. But that momentum killer was short lived as Southern Ohio stormed into the 2^nd and 3^rd scoring a run in each inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Cincinnati made a little thunder in the top of the 5^th with Nate Fields lacing a double to the left center field gap but in an effort to stretch it to a triple was cut down on a good relay throw.

Starting pitcher David Rubenstein went 5 strong innings for the Copperheads allowing one unearned run on 3 hits extending his record to 2-0 on the season and reliever Duane Oxford, in his first appearance for the Copperheads came on to close the game to record his first save.

Kyle Pfirrman, the hard luck pitcher for the Steam, while only giving up 2 runs and scattering 7 hits over his 6 innings saw his record fall to 2-2 on the season. In those 2 losses the Steam have only mustarded 1 run of support.

In the night cap, The Steam went down in order against Copperheads’ starter Jason Rook. In the bottom of the first Steam Starter Matt Marksbury set Southern Ohio down 1-2-3.

The Steam started the top of the 2^nd off with a basehit from Brandon Besl. After a flyout by Adam Pasono, Besl was caught in a rundown after a failed attempt at a hit and run. Drew Roberts eventually walked then Zach Hurley ended the inning. 

The Copperheads scored one in their half of the 2^nd after a leadoff double, a sac bunt moving the runner to 3^rd and a basehit scoring the runner and Southern Ohio went up 1-0. 

The Steam went down in order in the 3^rd, while the Copperheads scored 2 in their half putting them up 3-0 after 3.

The bats finally came alive in the 4^th for the Steam and they made the Copperheads commit 3 costly errors in the inning leading to 6 runs for Cincinnati. Cincinnati started the inning with a single to right by Steve Brown. Tony Kennedy then walked. With runners on first and second Brandon Besl hit a ground ball to short, forcing Tony Kennedy at 2^nd base for the first out of the inning. With runners on first and third, Adam Pasono hit a smash which the Copperheads 3^rd baseman knocked down but could not handle, thus allowing Brown to score and advancing Besl to 2^nd base. Next up was Drew Roberts and he got a basehit advancing Besl to 3^rd and Pasono to 2^nd. With the bases loaded and one out, rightfielder Zach Hurley hit an inbetween hopper that the Copperhead first baseman couldn’t handle for the 2^nd run of the inning for the Steam, as well as, the second error of the inning for Southern Ohio. Still with bases loaded, Steam catcher Mike Barnard hit a bounding ball to short that couldn’t be handled. All hands were safe and another run for the Steam and another error charged to the Copperheads. The Steam finally got a ball out of the infield when left fielder Nate Fields singled down the right field line scoring Drew Roberts and Zach Hurley. Now with runners on first and third, leadoff hitter Kory Lonergan hit a Sacrifice Fly to right scoring Mike Barnard with the inning’s sixth run.

Through the middle of the fourth the Steam had accumulated 6 runs on 3 hits thanks in part to the Copperheads 3 defensive errors. This was more than enough for starter and eventual winner Matt Marksbury to handle as he settled down and threw a complete game victory for the Steam. Marksbury ended up throwing 7 innings while scattering 7 hits and striking out 3, stretching Matt’s season record to 3-0. The Steam extends their record to 15-6 on the season remaining in first place in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Standings.

Next up for Cincinnati will be a trip to Wilmington College on Monday July 3^rd to face Xenia’s Athletes in Action then they are off to Shawnee HS on Thursday to face the Lima Locos.

The Steam will return home, sort of, on Saturday July 8^th. The Steam will play host to Lake Erie in Richmond, Indiana at Historic McBride Stadium, former home of the Frontier League’s Richmond Roosters. The Steam will act as Richmond’s Bicentennial event to be held at McBride. 

Then the Steam return to Xavier on the 9^th to face Southern Ohio in a rematch. Following the game on the 9^th the Steam will play at Western Hills High School on the 11^th and 14^th. Tickets still remain for all home contests. Please visit our website at www.cincinnatisteam.com for further details.