Cincinnati Steam

Back-and-Forth Struggle Extends Streak to Nine

The Cincinnati Steam came into Wednesday’s game riding an 8-game winning streak, leading the GLSCL at 17-4 and trying to improve on a perfect 8-0 record at home. On top of that, they had just moved up into the top 10 of the PG Crosschecker national rankings and had a league-high seven all-stars selected to play in the GLSCL All-Star game on July 16. After everything had gone so smoothly as of late, the Cows made sure they wouldn’t let the Steam have an easy night.

The Steam started things early, as Jake Brown (Thomas More) reached on an error and was knocked in by an Adam Eaton (Miami) triple to deep left-center in the bottom of the 3^rd. As Steam starter Charlie Leesman kept the Cows at bay, the Steam managed to strike again in the bottom of the 4^th, this time on a three-run home run by shortstop Ryan Strausborger (Indiana St.), making it 4-0 in favor of the Steam.

Leesman looked rocky in the fifth, as the Cows’ Jamel Scott (Cincinnati) started things with a single, and was knocked home after a Cameron McConnell (Notre Dame) double. After McConnell’s double, he was knocked in by another stand-up double, cutting the Steam lead in half.

After their two runs in the 5^th, the Cows duplicated the feat in the 6^th against reliever Joel Ernst (Wake Forest), rocking him for two runs on six hits and two walks. After only a third of an inning, Ernst was pulled, leaving the bases loaded for Steven Davis (Kent State). Davis got out of the inning, leaving the bases loaded and the score tied.

The Steam bats remained quiet in the bottom of the 6^th, and the Cows kept theirs going in the top of the 7^th, scoring another run after a lead-off double by Cory Kovana. Davis made no more mistakes, though, getting out of the inning after allowing one run, making the score 5-4.

The Steam got something going again in the 7^th, with Hurley opening things with a single. After a Tommy Nurre walk, Brandon Besl knocked Hurley in with a single, tying the game, 5-5. The Steam proceeded to strand Besl and Nurre, but went to the 8^th inning with things all square.

The Cows bats quieted down, and then the Steam took advantage of errant pitching as the Cows’ David Goforth gave up three walks in the bottom of the 8^th. That, coupled with an RBI single by Tommy Nurre, allowed the Steam to score two runs and retake the lead at 7-5.

After Davis allowed a walk, Adam Eaton was called in from center field to close it out, and he did so, getting a double play ball against the first batter he faced. After a walk, he struck out the next and final batter for his second save of the season.

The Steam moved to 18-4 with the win, while the Cows fell to 8-11-1. The Steam are in action again tomorrow night at Lima before returning home to host the Locos Friday night. After that, the Southern Ohio Copperheads come to town for a Saturday double-header before the Steam goes to Xenia to take on the Athletes in Action to close out their five-day stretch of six games.

Delaware Cows 000 022 100 5 10 3

Cincinnati Steam 001 300 12X 7 11 0

WP – Davis (2-0) LP – Goforth (2-1) SV – Eaton (2)

Hitting Leaders

Cows: Meade (2-5; 1 run, 1 rbi), Scott (2-4; 1 run, 1 rbi), McConnel (1-4; 1 run, 1 rbi)

Steam: Nurre (2-4; 1 rbi), Besl (2-3; 1 run, 2 rbi), O’Conner (2-5; 1 run), Strausborger (1-4; 1 run, 3 rbi), Edgington (2-4; 1 rbi)