Scouts Walk Off Copperheads in the Season Opener
The Xenia Scouts opened the 2026 season in a dramatic fashion on Friday night, rallying in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure a 7-6 walk-off victory over the Southern Ohio Copperheads.
XENIA, Ohio - The Xenia Scouts opened the 2026 season in a dramatic fashion on Friday night, rallying in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure a 7-6 walk-off victory over the Southern Ohio Copperheads.
After exchanging runs early, the Scouts erased a late deficit with a two-run ninth inning to claim the first win of the season. The Scouts finished with 13 hits on the night, led by Steven Schneider with three hits and multiple-hit outings from Cole Rohlmeier, Jack Drew, and Bo Solley.
The Copperheads struck first with two runs in the opening inning, but the Scouts responded quickly. RBI hits from Rohlmeier, Owen Roether, Solley, and Mason Golabek highlighted an offensive outburst as the Scouts surged ahead 4-2.
Southern Ohio answered with two runs in the second inning to even the score at 4-4, and the game remained tied until the sixth. With two outs at the bottom of the sixth, Zachary Pearrow broke the standoff with a solo home run, giving the Scouts a 5-4 advantage.
The Copperheads rallied late, tying the game in the eighth before taking a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth. The Scouts responded in their final at-bat, loading the bases before Schneider delivered a game-winning single that sent two runs home and completed the comeback victory.
Schneider paced the offense with a 3-for-6 performance and two runs batted in, while Rohlmeier finished with two hits and an RBI. Solley added two hits and an RBI and Pearrow's sixth-inning homer proved to be a key swing in the contest.
On the mound, JT McLaughlin provided a strong relief appearance, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings while striking out four. After the Copperheads took a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, Ryan Redding (1-0) earned the win after limiting the damage despite traffic on the bases, preserving a one-run deficit and setting the stage for Xenia's walk-off rally. Redding closed out the inning with two stikeouts to earn the victory.
The Scouts begin the season 1-0 and will play against the Copperheads in Athens at 7:05 PM on Saturday.