Renegades struggle offensively in series opener

Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (April 23, 2024) — In the first game of the series between the Hudson Valley Renegades and Bowling Green Hot Rods, it was the visitors who flexed their muscles offensively on their way to a 7-0 victory at Heritage Financial Park.

Despite five strikeouts in the first two innings for Baron Stuart, Bowling Green pounced early. After reaching on an infield single and stealing two bases in the first, Chandler Simpson came around to score after a Rafael Flores throwing error.

In the fourth, Bowling Green had their big rally with two outs. The Hot Rods notched three consecutive doubles, all to the opposite field in left center. Xavier Isaac doubled, and was knocked in by Cooper Kinney with a double. Colton Ledbetter drove in Kinney with a two-bagger of his own, and a single for Kamren James allowed Ledbetter to score, and pushed the Hot Rods’ lead to 4-0.

Bowling Green added another insurance run in the fourth, after a check-swing single from Isaac brought home Simpson.

The seventh Hot Rods run came in the eighth, when Kinney had his third RBI hit of the night, a single scoring Simpson.

Trevor Martin provided another excellent start in his second appearance of the season against the Renegades, throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out seven with just one walk issued. He’s now thrown 12 innings against Hudson Valley and allowed just one earned run while striking out 16.

Four Renegades pitchers combined to strike out a season-high 16 batters in the game.

The Renegades and Hot Rods will continue their six-game tilt tomorrow morning on Education Day at 11 a.m., with the Heritage Financial Credit Union Pregame Show beginning at 10:45 on the Renegades Baseball Network. RHP Jackson Fristoe (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will start for Hudson Valley, while RHP Alex Cook (1-1, 2.08 ERA) will toe the rubber for Bowling Green.