Sluggers Split DH with Copperheads
BOB WREN STADIUM - The Flag City Sluggers playoff hopes came to an end after falling in the nightcap of a double header to the Southern Ohio Copperheads 7-4 in Athens.
Flag City, who needed to win all four games in the final series of the season won the first game convincingly 18-7.
Chris Franks (Ashland University) reached base in four of his five plate appearances going 3-for-4 at the plate. Franks belted a home run, a triple and drove in a season high six RBIs. He also was hit by a pitch and stole a base.
Southern Ohio (14-23) played the spoiler role with the victory in the nightcap. The Copperheads scored four runs, three of which were unearned, taking a early 4-0 lead that it would never relinquish.
Landon Baker (Salem CC), who joined the team for the final weekend, delivered an RBI-single driving in another newcomer Nate Silvus (Hocking College).
Mason Wagner (Salem CC) scored on a throwing error by the Sluggers catcher. Baker crossed the plate being forced home from third base when Brendan Willadsen (Adrian College transfer) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Frankie Clark (Eastern Michigan) then scored from third base on a wild pitch.
The Sluggers threatened scoring three runs in the fifth inning cutting the Copperheads lead to 6-4.
Willadsen doubled in the bottom of the fifth inning sending home Ronnie Rowley (MidAmerican Nazarene) all the way from first base for an insurance run.
Copperheads reliever Dylan Klein (Alpena Community College) pitched the final two innings for the Cheads securing his first save of the season. Jacob Ruiz (Ohlone College), who has been a work horse of late for the Copperheads, got the start going five innings earning the victory.
Despite missing out on the playoffs in its inaugural season, the Sluggers (19-20) still have a chance to end its first season with a winning record. Flag City hosts the final two games of the season starting Friday at Marathon Diamonds against the Copperheads at 7:05pm.
