By: Kari Lakes

LIMA, OH- Errors were the name of the game on Saturday night at Simmons Field as the Cincinnati Steam (8-5) defense committed two late, leading to a 6-5 victory for the Lima Locos (10-3) in the first of a two-game set.

The Steam did have a chance to make a comeback but came up one run short.

In the first inning, Lima’s Will Kilgore drew a leadoff walk off Steam starter Grey Harmon. Tyler Tolbert followed with a hustle double and allowed Lima to have a hot start after both scored on back to back ground outs.

After going hitless the first time through the line-up, Canadian Mike Moffatt broke open the Steam offense with a single early in the fourth. Singles from Matt Warkentin, Chris Given and Alex Holderbach allowed Cincinnati to tie the game at 2-2.

Harmon heated up with his offense as he resigned six straight batters in the fourth and fifth inning.

Darren Bowling came in as relief in the eighth inning, but after back to back throwing errors from Alex Holderbach and Jake Bourke the Locos were able to register three more runs.

Moffatt initiated a two-out rally with another single, while fellow Canadian Markentin followed with a base hit of his own. Chris Given, making his Steam debut, hit a roller back to the pitcher. Joe Gahm committed a throwing error to score both Moffatt and Warkentin but Given was thrown out at third to end the inning.

Holderbach was able to draw a lead-off walk to start the ninth inning. Haydon Senger’s bunt put Holderbach in scoring position, but were unable to complete the comeback.

The Steam and the Locos conclude their two-game series tomorrow evening at Max McLeary Field. Logan Heinztman will start on the mound with first pitch set at 6:05pm.

ABOUT THE CINCINNATI STEAM: The Cincinnati Steam has earned a spot in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs in 10 of its 11 seasons of existence. Three times the Steam has played in the GLSCL championship round including winning the title in both 2008 and 2009.

ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES SUMMER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE: The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate, which is entering its 30th season, is a wood-bat league that is certified by the NCAA and is partially funded by Major League Baseball. The league boasts several players that have earned service time in major league baseball including six former Steam players.