Rob Hardin / Chief Photographer / rh124104@ohiou.edu

Copperheads’ infielder Phillip Michael Vaughn tries to avoid the tag at home from Anderson Servants’ catcher Justin Branock during the second game of a double header Sunday.  The Copperheads won the first game 1-0 and the second game 5-4.  They won last night’s game 7-4 after two weather-related delays.

After an hour and forty-five minute rain delay at Bob Wren Stadium, the Copperheads got back on the winning track last night.

When Copperhead starter Zach Fairbanks lasted just four innings, Southern Ohio coach Ted Tom turned to his bullpen, which threw five hitless innings in the team’s 7-4 comeback victory over the Stark County Terriers (6-3).

“We needed something to break their momentum and tonight the bullpen helped us and everything fell our way and that was huge,” Tom said. “We came out flat and Zach didn’t have his best stuff. The rain delay helped us gain our focus and we fed off that.”

The Copperheads (4-1) played catch up after falling into a 3-0 hole following the third inning.

All it took was a brief lightning delay before the bottom of the fifth inning to ignite the Copperhead offense.

Southern Ohio cut the 4-0 deficit to 4-3, after Terrier relief pitcher Matt Schlarb handed out two walks, hit a batter and allowed a single that led to the Copperheads first three runs.

Play was suspended again after the fifth inning and following the long delay the Copperheads capitalized in the bottom of the sixth.

The Copperheads tallied four of their six hits and induced an error from aggressive base running that helped complete the rally with a four-run inning.

Southern Ohio third baseman Phillip Vaughn hit a double to deep left center, driving in two runs to give the Copperheads a 5-4 lead. A throwing error and a bunt single later, the Copperheads push their margin to 7-4.

Terrier pitchers allowed only six hits, but handed out six free passes to Copperhead batters. The Copperheads’ timely hitting and patience at the plate proved costly for the Terriers. Ohio junior pitcher Mike Babin was credited with the loss after giving up four runs, two of them earned, over two innings.

Copperheads relief pitcher Blair Veenema pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings as he earned his first victory of the season.

“After the delay I had plenty of time to warm up,” Veenema said. “I wanted to come in and keep the game close and give our bats a chance to win the game for us.”

Closer Chuck Boring prevented any opportunity of a Stark County comeback in the ninth with his third save of the season.

With the win, the Copperheads jumped into a tie for second in the standings for the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.

This came the night after the Copperheads dropped their first game of the young season to the Delaware Cows. Tuesday night was a different situation as the bullpen failed to hold a lead late in the game as the Copperheads fell 5-4.

Southern Ohio had opened their 2008 season with three straight one-run victories over the weekend.