Bats fall in finale to Mud Hens, 6-1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Bats (8-11) were defeated by the Toledo Mud Hens (15-6) on Sunday afternoon by a 6-1 score. The Bats dropped their second game in a row after winning a season-high three games in a row.

The action got started before the first pitch was even thrown, with Reds top prospect and Bats infielder Nick Senzel being scratched from the lineup prior to today's game, with Cliff Pennington filling in at designated hitter duties for the Bats. Pennington went 1-for-4 with a double in his Louisville debut.
Bats starting pitcher, left-hander Justin Nicolino (1-2, 3.60) went 5.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on 11 hits, walking none and striking out three Mud Hens. Toledo scored one run in the first and a pair in the second, taking the Bats out of the game early.
Toledo starting pitcher, left-hander Blaine Hardy (3-0, 0.74) had an excellent start, earning the win and going 7.0 innings, giving up one earned run on five hits, walking none and striking out 10.
Louisville's offense only mustered up six hits, with DJ Peterson recording the lone multi-hit game of the season with two singles. Brandon Dixon failed to reach base for the first time this season, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
The Bats return home starting Monday for a three-game series with the Columbus Clippers, with first pitch set for tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. Left-hander Cody Reed (0-0, 3.00) will start as the Louisville Bats host "Derby at the Diamond Night" with tickets still available at batsbaseball.com.