ATHENS — The Galion Graders had lost four games in a row heading into their contest with the Southern Ohio Copperheads on Thursday night in Athens at Bob Wren Stadium. After being outscored by the Lima Locos by a tally of 31-8 over two games, Galion was in need of some offense.

The Graders got it against the Copperheads, taking the first of two games against Southern Ohio by a final score of 14-2. Both are 6-5 in the 2017 season. They plan again today.

The Graders’ Austin Hathaway continued his offensive onslaught with a four-hit night at the plate. Hathaway finished with two singles, a double and a triple while scoring three runs and driving in three to put his RBI total at 14 for the year. Matthew Noel and Brandt Nowaskie also had three-hit nights. Noel belted three singles, scored once and drove in a run in the win. Nowaskie gathered a pair of singles and a triple while also scoring once and driving in a runner.

Joe Crank notched a pair of singles, a run and 2 RBIs and Sam Stewart — playing second base instead of pitching — finished with a single, a double and two runs scored. Braxton Giavedoni recorded his seventh double of the young season, scored a run and drove in a runner. Josh Kent hustled out a triple, swiped his fifth stolen base of the year, scored twice and drove in four teammates on the night. Matthew Freeman scored a run and Grant Fuller crossed home twice and drove in one to round out the Galion offensive surge.

On the mound, Brody Basilone was in control for Galion, going seven innings while allowing just six hits, walking one and striking out three for the win. Christian Specht worked the remaining two innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs and fanning one Copperheads’ batter. Southern Ohio’s two runs in the game did not come until the bottom of the ninth inning.

Galion plated their 14 runs on 16 hits and stranded 13 runners on the base path. Southern Ohio scored two runs on 10 hits and left eight runners on. Both teams committed just one error in the field of play.