Bowling Green, KY - C.J. Riefenhauser threw the first complete game shutout for the Hot Rods in more than a year, capping off a doubleheader sweep of the South Bend Silver Hawks (16-21) with 8-3 and 6-0 wins. The Hot Rods improved to 21-16 with the sweep and can clinch the series with South Bend in the finale on Sunday afternoon.

Riefenhauser was the story of the game for the Hot Rods as he shined in the second game of the doubleheader. He began his night with two scoreless frames, recording his first two strikeouts. After recording two more K's in the third, the Hot Rods busted the game open against South Bend starter Enrique Burgos.

Steve Tinoco led off the frame with a double to right, scoring when the next batter Alejandro Torres filled the gap in left-center with a double to give the Hot Rods a 1-0 lead.

The inning continued as Robi Estrada walked before Cody Rogers reached on a bunt single. That brought up Robby Price, who worked a lengthy at-bat for a walk to make it 2-0. Derek Dietrich followed with a strikeout before Phil Wunderlich made it 3-0 on an RBI groundout. Todd Glaesmann then followed with a long three-run homer to left field, his third long ball in three days, to extend the lead to 6-0.

Burgos faced one more man in the inning, walking Kevin Kiermaier before leaving after 2.2 innings in his 2011 debut. Lefty Dan Taylor came on and allowed a single by Tinoco, his second hit of the frame, to put runners at first and second base. Taylor got out of the frame one batter later, inducing a force out from Torres. All told, the Hot Rods sent 11 men to the plate, scoring six runs on five hits and three walks.

From there it was cruise control for Riefenhauser. The lefty allowed one hit the first time through the order, erasing that base runner with a double play. He stranded another hit in the fourth before leaving a walk aboard in the sixth. In the seventh, a two-out single was stranded when Ramon Castillo grounded out to end the game.

Riefenhauser improve to 3-3 on the season with the complete game shut-out. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out ten batters. He threw the first complete game since Kyle Lobstein threw seven innings in a win at Lansing on June 15, 2010. The last complete game shut-out was thrown by Shane Dyer on April 25, 2010 against the Lake County Captains.

The Hot Rods used early offense to build their lead in the first game. In the first inning Derek Dietrich slapped a doubled down the left field line, scoring Robby Price from first base to give Bowling Green a 1-0 lead.

After the Silver Hawks scored twice off George Jensen in the second inning, the Hot Rods came right back in their half of the frame. With one out, Kyle Holloway and Luke Bailed delivered consecutive singles. After Hector Guevara grounded out, Cody Rogers ripped a double down the right field line to push the Hot Rods back on top 3-2.

Bowling Green broke the game open as the first three men reached in the third inning. Dietrich began the frame by blasting his sixth home run to right field, pushing his RBI total to 24 on the season. Phil Wunderlich followed with a single before Todd Glaesmann pushed him to third base with a double to left. Two outs later, Luke Bailey laced a single to center field to plate two more runs and build the Hot Rods lead to 6-3.

In the fifth, the Hot Rods ran into trouble with their three-run lead. Jensen loaded the bases with only one out on a walk, a double, and a hit batter. The bases loaded situation brought up the league's RBI and home run leader in Yazy Arbelo; Jensen didn't seem to care, though, as he induced Arbelo into a double play to end the frame.

The double play sparked the Hot Rods in the bottom of the inning as Phil Wunderlich doubled. Two batters later Nick Schwaner snapped a 16 at-bat hitless streak with a two-run homer into the visiting bullpen to push the Hot Rods lead to 8-3.

Jensen got the win in the opener, his second of the year. He allowed three runs on five hits over five innings, reaching that plateau for the third straight outing. He struck out two and walked a pair to improve to 2-2.

The teams now finish the series with Axle's Birthday Bash and Mascot Mania on Sunday afternoon. It's a Kids Club Day where Kids Club members get to meet all the mascots at the park. All kids 14 & under can run the bases after the game thanks to Smucker's Uncrustables. First pitch is at 2:05 PM. For tickets and to sign you kids up for the free Hot Rods Kids Club, visit www.bghotrods.com.

LHP Enny Romero earns the start tomorrow for the Hot Rods against South Bend RHP J.R. Bradley. You can listen to the game with Tom Gauthier and Josh Weinstock beginning at 1:40 PM CDT on 1340 AM WBGN and www.bghotrods.com.