Late Rally Completes Sweep as Sluggers Top Scouts 6-3

FINDLAY, OH — The Flag City Sluggers completed a series sweep of the Xenia Scouts on Thursday night, coming from behind late to secure a 6-3 victory.

The win marks the third straight victory for the hot Sluggers, shifting their overall record to 17-13.

For the first four frames, both starting pitchers locked into a scoreless duel. Xenia (8-22) broke the ice in the top of the fifth when Jack Drew launched a two-run home run, followed shortly by an Owen Roether RBI single to push the Scouts ahead 3-0. Flag City answered right back in the bottom half, manufacturing a run with a sacrifice fly from Drew Tajblik.

From that moment on, the night belonged to the Sluggers' bullpen and a patient, opportunistic offense.

Reliever Ben Best (1-1) entered the game in the sixth inning and was utterly flawless. Best slammed the door on any potential Scouts rally, tossing 4.0 spectacular innings of no-hit baseball, racking up five strikeouts, and giving up absolutely nothing to earn the win.

With Best holding Xenia at bay, the Flag City offense went to work chipping away at the lead. Cameron Spezia sparked the comeback with an RBI double in the sixth, and Atticus Huffstutler laced a game-tying RBI single in the seventh to draw even at 3-3.

The dam completely broke in the bottom of the eighth against Xenia reliever Ryan Redding (1-2). After loading the bases, Miles Mitchell broke the tie with an RBI single. Drew Tajblik then delivered the definitive blow of the evening, a clutch two-run single to complete the late surge and lock up the 6-3 victory.

Key Stats

Flag City Sluggers

• Ben Best (P): 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO (Win)

• Drew Tajblik (CF): 2-for-4, 3 RBI, SB, Sac

• Atticus Huffstutler (C): 3-for-5, RBI

• Miles Mitchell (SS): 3-for-5, RBI

• Cameron Spezia (RF): 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, R, Sac

Xenia Scouts

• Jack Drew (LF): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R

• Bo Solley (SS): 1-for-2, 2 BB, R, SB

• Owen Roether (3B): 1-for-4, RBI