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North Canton, Ohio – Before Thursday's game against the Southern Ohio Copperheads, the Stark County Terriers found their playoff hopes all but mathematically eliminated, needing to win their remaining three games and needing the Delaware Cows to drop all of their remaining games. Two hours later, the Terriers found their playoff dream officially ended, losing to the Copperheads 4-3 in a hard fought game. The Terriers had thirteen hits, and mounted a rally in the late innings but just fell short to the Copperheads, failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities, stranding thirteen runners on the day. The Copperheads scored first Thursday on a solo blast from first baseman Brad Winter in the second inning. The Copperheads would add another run in the inning, scoring after John Koehnlein's triple and a Terrier error. The Terriers would cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning when Ryan France (University of Toledo) delivered his first hit as a Terrier, a two out double that would score Tyler Maag (Southern Arkansas University) who had singled two batters prior. The Copperheads would answer back in the third inning, scoring one run on two hits and a hits batsman. The Copperheads would add another insurance run in the top of the seventh inning after a hits batsman, a double and a sacrifice fly. The Terriers would mount a small comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring one run on a single and a base on balls. Blake Chaffee (Miami of Ohio) led off the inning single and would be followed by Cory Hindel (Wake Forest University) who would walk. Jason Patton (Kent State University) would ground out to the second baseman on a ball in the hole, allowing the runners to move up into scoring position. With runners on second and third, Tyler Maag (Southern Arkansas University) stepped up to the plate. Maag (Southern Arkansas University) would ground out to the third baseman, allowing Chaffee (Miami of Ohio) and cutting the Copperheads lead in half. The Terriers would rally again in the eighth inning, scoring one run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Blake Chaffe (Miami of Ohio). Ryan France (University of Toledo) led off the inning and reached base safely on a throwing error. France moved to third on Ross Yoder's (Mount Vernon Nazrene University) double. Blake Chaffee (Miami of Ohio) would follow with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring France (University of Toledo) and bringing the Terriers within a run. With the lose, the Terriers go to 18-20 on the season and are mathematically eliminated from the Great Lakes League Playoffs. The Terriers will finish their season this Saturday, July 28, as they take on the Lima Loco's in a 1:00 PM scheduled doubleheader.
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