Late Eighth-Inning Rally Lifts Locos Past Scouts

XENIA, Ohio – The Xenia Scouts matched the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League-leading Lima Locos through seven innings Sunday afternoon before a three-run eighth inning lifted Lima to a 5-2 victory at Grady's Field.

After falling behind early, the Scouts battled back to even the score in the third inning and received another strong performance from the bullpen before the Locos broke the tie late.

Lima opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning, but Xenia answered in the bottom of the third. Cooper Schutte scored on a fielding error before Mayo Fernandez lined an RBI single to center field, tying the game at 2-2.

The Scouts' pitching staff kept the Locos off the scoreboard over the next four innings. Hunter Brooks and Adam Laski combined for five scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits while keeping the game deadlocked into the eighth.

Lima regained the lead in the eighth when they delivered a two-run double before later scoring on a groundout to extend the advantage to 5-2.

Fernandez led the Scouts with an RBI, while Steven Schneider, Ethan Papalios, Cooper Schutte and Cole Rohlmeier each recorded a hit. Schutte reached base four times, collecting a hit and three walks, while Schneider scored a run and stole a base.

On the mound, Brooks tossed two scoreless innings in relief, and Laski followed with three scoreless innings while striking out two. Keegan Philips was charged with the loss after allowing two runs in the eighth inning.

The Scouts return to action Tuesday as they face the Muskegon Clippers in a new series.