Hulsizer Smashes Bulls To 5-3 Walk-Off Win Over Sounds

Bulls first baseman Jonathan Aranda homered for the fourth time in six games, while left fielder Niko Hulsizer drove in four runs, smashing a game-winning two-run home run in the ninth to give Durham a 5-3 win over the Nashville Sounds in front of a paid attendance of 9,026 on Saturday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Entering the last of the ninth tied at three, C Nick Dini drew a leadoff walk to set the scene for Hulsizer. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Hulsizer crushed a 453-foot home run to left to cue the celebration.

Aranda got the scoring started in the opening frame with a solo shot to left. After the Sounds evened the tally in the top of the fourth, Hulsizer would give the Bulls the advantage in the last of the frame with a two-run single into center to make it 3-1. Nashville would then cut their deficit to one with another single score in the fifth before a game-tying solo homer in the eighth set up the dramatic ninth inning.

Durham starter Elvin Rodriguez (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO) fanned seven of 13 batters faced, yielding a lone hit and two walks, though he did not factor in the final decisions. Durham reliever Hector Perez (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory, while Nashville lefty Darrell Thompson (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) suffered the loss.

The two teams are scheduled to conclude their series on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05pm. The Bulls’ starting pitcher has not yet been announced while RHP Caleb Boushley is anticipated to get the nod for the Sounds.

Tickets for that game and all 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.