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By Tom Usher, The Lima News - sports@limanews.com

LIMA – It now comes down one game.

One final ballgame is left to decide the Great Lakes Collegiate League championship.

Licking County tied the best-of-three GLCL championship series at 1 with a 9-6 victory over the Lima Locos before a crowd of 750 Sunday at Simmons Field.

The third and deciding game is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at Lima’s Simmons Field.

Licking started out with two runs in the third inning. The Settlers then came up with four runs in the fifth to bounce out to a commanding 6-0 lead.

Licking built its lead to a seemingly cozy 9-0 margin before the Locos came back with three in the eighth and three more in the ninth to get within the 9-6 final.

The Locos also had four errors on the night, which contributed to only five of the Settlers’ runs being earned.

“We gave them a couple of extra runs and we had too many errors,” Locos coach Matt Furuto said. “We gave them too many freebies and they took advantage of it. When you give them half their runs, it makes it really easy for them.’’

Keeping the Locos off the board for the first six inning was Licking County lefty Michael Osmond (Wittenberg), who threw a wide assortment of off-speed pitches.

Osmond threw six shutout innings and gave up four hits. He struck out three and walked six.

But the walks didn’t get him in trouble, as he made the key pitches with his breaking ball and change-up when he had to deliver them.

“He changed speeds and we swung at some bad pitches,” Furuto said.

Osmond threw 102 pitches, 56 for strikes.

“We knew when we gave him the ball, we knew he would be a dog and compete,” Licking catcher/third baseman Darius Diaz said.

At the plate, Licking was led by Diaz (Kennesaw State), who went 2 for 5 with three.

For Diaz, he’s excited to play for a title against his four Kennesaw State teammates from the Locos, Tyler Tolve, Nick Colina, Ryan Smith and Jared Rine.

“It’s fun. That’s a great group of guys,” Diaz said of his college teammates for the Locos. “You just love competing against them and we’ll see who gets the bragging rights when we get back home. … At least one of the Kennesaw’s will win tomorrow night.’’

Licking’s Sam Wilson went 3 for 5. Stephen Krause was 2 for 3 with three RBI.

Licking scored two unearned runs in the third to grab a 2-0 lead.

Wilson doubled and came home on an error on the Locos shortstop. That gave the Settlers a 1-0 lead.

Cael Baker’s bloop RBI single to right pushed the Licking lead to 2-0 in the third.

Licking loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth. When Baker walked, it brought in a run and gave Licking a 3-0 run.

Diaz hit a deep fly to right-center field. Locos right fielder Trevor Hatton and center fielder Randon Jernigan came close to colliding on the ball and it got away from both of them. It was ruled a two-run single to give Licking a 5-0 lead.

That was it for Locos starter Jacob Lewis.

“We knew this potentially could have been our last game so we came out and just had fun,” Diaz said.

Krause’s RBI single pushed the Licking lead to 6-0 in the fifth.

Krause added a two-run single to left in the seventh and the Settlers’ lead mushroomed to 8-0.

The Locos’ Lewis (UNOH) went 4 1/3 innings and gave up six runs, four earned, on four hits. He struck out two and walked two.

Lewis threw 84 pitches, 43 for strikes.

For the Locos, Randon Jernigan went 2 for 4.

Colina walked four times and had a two-run single in the ninth to bring the Locos within 9-6.

As for Game 3 today, Furuto said of his pitching, “We have Jared Rine, Dylan Coburn, Colton (Frank) can throw one or two and we have Kyle Sacher.’’

Locos notes: The Locos won Game 1 in the championship series over Licking County 7-0 Saturday at Newark. Locos pitchers Zach Brown and Colton Frank combined for the shutout. Brown threw six scoreless innings, while Frank picked up a save with three shutout innings. Zach Sweet went 3 for 5 with three RBI. Nick Colina was 1 for 2 with two RBI.

The Locos won the semifinal series two games to none over Muskegon. The Locos won Game 2, 3-1, Friday at Muskegon. The Locos’ Colton Frank hit a solo home run with two out in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 1. Nick Colina’s two-run

double in the 10th inning gave the Locos the lead to stay 3-1. Kevin Miranda threw eight innings of one-run ball. Miranda struck out six and walked none. Jared Rine picked up the win with two shutout innings.

Licking County has won three titles (2012, 2013, 2014). Licking County announced it will change its name to the Ohio Bison next summer.

Licking County’s Nate Meyer, the son of former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer, is no longer with the Settlers. He left the team two days ago to go on vacation.

The Locos have won five GLCL championships (1993, 2004, 2011, 2015 and 2017).

The Columbus All-Americans, who are no longer in the GLCL, have won the most GLCL titles with eight.