Hot Rods Clinch Series Behind Hujsak’s Record-Setting Homer

Greensboro, North Carolina – Connor Hujsak broke the Bowling Green Hot Rods’ (72-29, 25-11) all-time single-season home run record, blasting his 25th home run in a 13-3 win over the Greensboro Grasshoppers (61-41, 20-16) at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Hujsak’s solo home run in the top of the seventh inning surpassed 2022 Hot Rods player Heriberto Hernandez for the most single-season home runs in Bowling Green’s 17 seasons as a franchise.

Bowling Green tallied two runs in the top of the fourth inning against reliever Cesar Aquino. Ryan McCoy, Noah Myers, and Bryan Broecker all walked to load the bases. Juanfel Peguero lifted a sacrifice fly into center field, scoring McCoy for a 1-0 Hot Rods lead. Adrian Santana drilled a single into center, plating Myers for a 2-0 advantage.

The Grasshoppers tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against reliever Jackson Lancaster. Jhonny Severino tagged a leadoff double, and Tony Blanco Jr. hit a two-run home run to left field, evening the game at 2-2.

The Hot Rods struck back against bullpen arm Greiber Mendez in the top of the seventh inning. Justyn-Henry Malloy and Hujsak hit back-to-back solo home runs for a 4-2 Bowling Green margin.

Greensboro responded in the bottom of the seventh, plating one run against relief arm Jonathan Russell. Severino logged another leadoff double and came into score on a Brian Sanchez RBI single, making it 4-3 Hot Rods.

Bowling Green boosted their lead with three runs in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Yulian Quintana. McCoy singled, Myers walked, and Nicandro Aybar drilled a pinch-hit double to send both runners home for a 6-3 advantage. A Quintana wild pitch scored Aybar for a 7-3 lead.

The Hot Rods put the game on ice against the Grasshoppers bullpen in the top of the ninth. Bowling Green drove in six runs, highlighted by a three-run home run from Tony Santa Maria and a two-run blast from Broecker, ballooning the score to 13-3.

Noah Beal (1-0) earned the win, throwing a shutout inning, striking out two and walking one. Mendez (0-1) was handed the loss, allowing two runs on two hits, adding two strikeouts over 2.1 frames.

The Hot Rods return to Bowling Green Ballpark for a six-game series with the Hub City Spartanburgers. Game one begins Tuesday night at 6:35 PM CT.

Fans can catch all the action by watching on MiLB.tv, listening through the MiLB First Pitch App and BGHotRods.com. Fans can also secure their seats for future home Hot Rods games by calling (270) 901-2121, visiting the Bowling Green Ballpark box office during normal business hours, or going to www.bghotrods.com.

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