LIMA, Ohio — The Lima Locos are one win away from hoisting their eighth Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League title.

Back at Simmons Field for Game 2 of the GLSCL Championship Series, the Locos faced the Hamilton Joes with a chance to clinch the crown — but came up short, falling 7–3.

The Joes struck first with a run in the opening frame, but Lima starter Landon Vandegrift — the reigning GLSCL Pitcher of the Week — settled in and gave the Locos a chance, striking out four batters across five innings of work.

In the bottom of the second, Lima loaded the bases and tied the game with back-to-back balks by the Joes’ pitcher. Evan Holstein and Grant McGuire each scored, leveling the contest at two runs apiece.

But Hamilton responded with four unanswered runs to retake control. Fort Jennings native Jarron Swick came out of the bullpen and struck out two in relief, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.

The Joes’ win forces a decisive Game 3 on Saturday night, where it’ll be winner-take-all for the 2025 GLSCL title.

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