Lopez's Walk-Off Single Leads Bats Over Clippers

LOUISVILLE, KY – Alejo Lopez hit a walk-off infield single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Louisville Bats to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers Saturday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

[BOX SCORE]

With Isiah Gilliam at third base and two outs in the ninth, Lopez hit a soft line drive to the left side of the infield. Clippers’ third baseman Gabriel Arias fielded the ball on a hop and made a strong throw to first, but Lopez beat it out by a step allowing Gilliam to score and win the game.

The Bats opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, loading the bases with one out before Chris Okey’s sacrifice fly scored Colin Moran to give Louisville the early lead.

The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to Brandon Williamson’s outstanding start for the Bats. The 24-year-old struck out two and held the Clippers off the board in his fifth start for the year for Louisville.

In that sixth inning, Aristides Aquino hit a solo home run to extend the Bats’ lead to 2-0. It was Aquino’s eighth long ball of the season.

After Williamson exited, Matt Pidich struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning. Columbus scored a run in the eighth inning off Eddy Demurias to make it a 2-1 game, but Fernando Cruz came in and got out of a bases-loaded jam to hold the lead.

In the top of the ninth, Arias’ sacrifice fly scored Tyler Freeman and tied the game for the Clippers, which only set the stage for Lopez’s heroics in the bottom of the inning.

The Clippers and Bats will play the finale of their six-game series Sunday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field. Justin Nicolino will start for Louisville (2-3, 6.23 ERA), opposing Konnor Pilkington (0-0, 6.38 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.