LIMA — The Lima Locos were in a fine hitting mood.
And the Locos’ fans were in a hungry mood when the night was finished after winning free pizza.
The Locos knocked out 14 hits in a 15-7 victory over Xenia in the team’s home opener Saturday at Simmons Field.
Will Kilgore (Georgia State) and Brett Murray both had home runs for the Locos, while Mitch Carriger (Maryville), Kilgore, Murray had two RBI. Grant Williams (Kennesaw State) had three RBI.
“When the offense is going, then everyone else is going to hit around them,” Murray said. “Last night (in an 8-2 loss at Grand Lake) we hit it pretty well, but none of them really fell. Tonight, it was a different story. Things were falling and we things happen, offensively.”
And to cap the night off, Locos’ pitchers had 11 strikeouts to win a free 10-inch pizza from Westgate Lanes for all the 700-plus fans, as long as it’s cashed in on Monday.
“I’m not used to playing with this many people around,” Kilgore said. “It’s a good feeling.”
The Locos are 1-1, while Xenia is 2-1.
“I couldn’t be more excited about our offense,” Locos coach Chad Ehrnsberger said. “Tonight we came out with 14 hits and 15 runs, that’s as good as it gets right there. … Those two guys, (Kilgore and Murray) just bash. They have talent and they work hard.”
The Locos took a 1-0 lead in the first on a deep blast of a home run to left by Will Kilgore (Georgia State.).
Xenia tied the game at 1 in the second. The Locos scored two in the second to take a 3-1 lead.
Xenia scored three in the third to nudge ahead 4-3. David Gauntt’s three-run home run to left gave Xenia a 4-3 lead off Locos starter Garrett Peek.
The Locos scored six in the home third to pull ahead 9-4. Mitch Carriger had an RBI single to tie the game at 4. Kilgore’s fielder’s choice grounder and error on the shortstop gave the Locos a 6-4 lead.
In the third inning, the big blast was a two-run home run to right by Brett Murray (Creighton) to give the Locos a 9-4 lead.
“I’m relaxed and trying to slow the game down and have fun out there,” Murray said. “It’s summer ball and the time to get better and work on some things. It’s working out pretty well so far.”
Besides the home runs, third baseman Kilgore made an outstanding diving grab to his right of a line drive in the first inning.
“That play took away a few butterflies,” Kilgore said. “Everybody gets lucky now and then.”
Locos starter Peek went three innings and gave up four runs, all earned, on three hits. He struck out six and walked two.
Logan Barnette picked up the win with three shutout innings of one-hit ball. He struck out one and walked two.
For Xenia, David Gauntt went 2 for 4, with two home runs and six RBI. His second three-run homer in the ninth cut the margin to 15-7.
Locos notes: The Locos are at Xenia for a 4 p.m. game at the Athletes in Action. … ONU’s Nick Eltzroth is expected to start for the Locos. The new dugouts were in place and looked roomy, much like the ones at Bluffton University and UNOH. They are on the same level of the field, with no steps. The new lights were also lit for their first Locos game. … Xenia pitchers had seven wild pitches on Saturday.
