CINCINNATI, Ohio - Thomas Bennett (University of Kentucky) went from the goat to the hero in short order as the Cincinnati Steam defeated the Licking County Settlers 5-4 Wednesday night at Max McLeary Field.

Bennett had struck out three times at the plate and committed two errors in the field at shortstop throughout the first seven innings but became the hero in a come from behind win for the Steam. 

The win maintains the Steam’s (28-10) one game lead over Southern Ohio (26-10) in the GLSCL South Division standings after the Copperheads beat the Galion Graders 7-5.

Cincinnati trailed 4-3 in the eighth inning when Bennett drew a two-out walk. The Steam would eventually load the bases and Jacob Abbott (Eastern Kentucky) walked forcing Bennett in from third base tying the score 4-4.

The score remained tied going to the bottom of ninth thanks to some great bullpen work put in by Jared Flueck (Olney Central/Colerain HS). Flueck retired the side in the top of ninth capping three innings of hitless relief work.

In the bottom of the ninth inning the Steam started its rally with one out. Jake Kates (Gulf Coast State/Lakota West HS) and Griffin Bernardo (Central Florida) reached base on base-to-back singles. After Eddie Pursinger’s (Dayton/Anderson HS) deep fly out to left field for the second out the stage was set for Bennett.

Bennett pulled the ball down the third base line scoring Kates from second base giving the Steam the walk off victory in front of its home fans.

Licking County struck first scoring two unearned runs off starter Jonathan Brus (Dayton/St. Xavier HS) in the top of the third inning.

Aaron Levy (Ohio University/Princeton HS) tied up the score with a two-run home run over the 40-foot fence in right field for his fifth homer of the season.

The Steam took the lead 3-2 in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Kates that scored Sebastian Fabik (Ohio University/Moeller HS). Fabik lead Cincinnati’s hit parade going 3-for-5 on the night.

The Settlers took the lead back 4-3 when third baseman Sam Wilson hit a towering home run over the fence in the left field during the seventh inning.

Flueck earned the win allowing just one base runner and striking out four batters. 

The Steam travel to Grady’s Field at the Athletes in Action Complex playing the Xenia Scouts in the first game of a two-game home-and-home series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm and Brady Laber will have the call of the broadcast on www.cincinnatisteam.com.

ABOUT THE CINCINNATI STEAM: The Cincinnati Steam has earned a spot in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs in 10 of its 12 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.