By Jacob Russell

CINCINNATI, Ohio - A nine-run rally with two outs in the second put Southern Ohio well out of the Steam’s reach.

Steam starting pitcher Jordan Menfee (Southern Indiana) began that dooming top of the second inning with three walks and two strikeouts. Three consecutive singles gave the Copperheads their first three runs before Menfee’s fifth walk of the inning handed them a run.

With the bases loaded, Ethan Doty (Otterbein) relieved Menfee and gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced, first baseman Zyon Avery (Ohio). Doty finally ended the rally by getting the 13th batter of the inning to ground out to the shortstop.

Menfee, the losing pitcher who now has a 2-1 record, allowed four hits and eight earned runs, struck out two and walked five in only one and two-thirds innings.

Southern Ohio’s offense didn’t let up in Doty’s first full inning. Second baseman Reese Trahey (Michigan State) gave his team run #10 using an RBI single before reaching home on a fielder’s choice. 

Avery’s fifth RBI of the night was a sacrifice fly to center in the fourth inning that put his team up 12 runs. By the middle of the fourth inning, the Copperheads had scored 13 unanswered runs. 

Center fielder Ethan Stringer’s (Louisville) RBI single in the fourth scored shortstop Tyler Wardwell and was Cincinnati’s first response to the parade of Southern Ohio runs. Warsaw Federal Player of the Game Jonathan Brus (Dayton), a reliever who hit well for the Steam last summer, cleared the bases later in the inning with a double to make the game 13-4.

Those four runs went on reigning GLSCL Pitcher of the Week Zach Iverson’s (Michigan State) line as unearned. Iverson, who has a 0.92 ERA, picked up his fourth win of the summer by striking out nine and allowing only six hits in seven innings. 

Third baseman Daniel Cruz’s (Marshall) two-run shot in the eighth inning off lefty Casey Grimm (Wright State Lake) added insult to injury and put the Copperheads up 15-4, the final score.

North Greenville’s Cade Spikes (1-1, 3.19 ERA) is set to start the Sunday rubber match for Cincinnati. After the off day, the Steam (18-11) begin week six with a series against the Xenia Scouts (14-14).

To keep up with the Steam, follow us at @CincinnatiSteam on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.