Last week’s series against the Hamilton Joes proved to be an uphill battle. While the Copperheads continued their losing streak Sunday evening, losing 7-5 to the Joes, hopes remain high for the upcoming games against the Grand Lake Mariners.

Despite an eighth inning RBI triple from Reese Trahey, the Copperheads were not able to pull through for the win.

“We’re averaging nine strikeouts a game, and that continued today,” said head coach Austin Dunfee. “We have enough hits to win ballgames, but if we’re striking out in between every hit, we’re not gonna score enough runs to beat a pretty good team like the Hamilton Joes.”

By the bottom of the first inning, Hamilton (9-3) already had two runs on the board. Southern Ohio (4-8) quickly retaliated with an RBI double by Chris Gambert, bringing Thomas Zazzaro home to score the team’s first run. 

In the top of the third inning, Hamilton scored three runs, increasing their lead to 4-1. Southern Ohio responded again, scoring one run after Reese Trahey and Ben Rushing hit back-to-back singles.

Hamilton scored two more runs in the sixth inning, making the score 6-2. By the end of the seventh inning, Daniel Cruz and Ty Crittenberger hit doubles, putting one more run on the board for the Copperheads.

A fielder’s choice hit by Thomas Zazzaro brought Ty Crittenberger home to score the Copperheads’ fourth run.

Fans at Bob Wren Stadium had high hopes for a comeback during the eighth inning when Reese Trahey, the Dan Inman Electric Player of the Game, hit an RBI triple. Southern Ohio scored one run safely on his hit, making the score 6-5, but a close call at home plate prevented the other runner from scoring the tying run.

Hamilton scored once more in the ninth inning, and Southern Ohio could not come back, making the final score 7-5.

A tough loss did not stop fans from enjoying Father’s Day activities at the stadium. In light of the holiday, Copperheads founder Andy Kreutzer, and current president Bill L’Heureux, threw first the pitches.

The Copperheads’ home-game “Orange Crush” race also honored Father’s Day. Instead of one young fan running against the Orange Crush, his father joined the race as well. 

Southern Ohio will travel to Celina, Ohio, to start their next series against the Grand Lake Mariners on Tuesday, June 18.

The Copperheads’ next home game will take place Thursday, June 20 at 7:05 p.m. Renée A. Middleton, the Dean of Ohio University’s Patton College of Education, will throw the first pitch.

Coach Dunfee is looking forward to the upcoming series.

“I’m looking to bounce back,” said Dunfee, “and to start getting some wins on the board.”